The Trampoline

“Please, Alan, please, please, please!” 

Katybug loved being with her big brother, Alan! He was 12 years older, but they had always been buddies. They enjoyed Teddy Bear Tea Parties and fishing at the creek. He listened to her stories and jokes. He even laughed when they were funny. (To be honest, he even laughed when they weren’t.) Katybug and Alan were more than brother and sister. They were good friends. But there was one thing he always refused to do with her, the trampoline.

Katybug was a trampoline expert. In her 10 years, she had learned how to jump, tumble and roll. Alan was amazed at how she handled herself. And the one thing she really wanted to do was to get her brother on the contraption with her.  

But Alan had lots of excuses. Most involved falling and breaking his leg or, at least, looking like a fool. In truth, he was afraid it would turn out as it did in grade school, and everyone laughed when he fell off.

Katybug said, “Don’t be afraid. Leave your fear on the ground in your shoes.” But Alan was not getting on that thing. He started to walk away when Katybug blocked his way. Her disappointment was leaking down her cheeks.   Alan knew the battle was over.  

He finally told her about his last experience back in grade school. Katybug smiled and said with a childish conviction, “But you didn’t have me helping you back then.”  After a few moments, Alan smiled as he reached down to take off his shoes. He crawled up on the trampoline with her. They did a little walking and then some little bounces while holding hands. Then the bounces got a little bigger. When he fell, she helped him up and reminded him to bend his knees. Katybug’s grin was all Alan needed to keep on going.

Over a lifetime, we acquire memories that direct to our present and future. They can steal away our capacity to bounce when we face old wounds. Resilience requires finding the inner resources to meet those challenges rather than stepping away.  

Alan knew that Katybug would not laugh when he failed at the trampoline. She was there to help him; that was all he needed to slip off his shoes and take the risk. He trusted her. In the next 20 minutes, Alan learned a great deal about bouncing on a trampoline. He learned to bounce because he had a little sister he could trust. Katybug was a good coach. But he also learned something about resilience when eternity hands you a challenge that you have failed in the past.