Sunshine Waterfall

This is the story of Sunshine Waterfall. I do not pretend that it is her whole story, for only she could tell you that. This story only reflects a brief moment of her life, but one that I shall not forget. Sunshine Waterfall came to the Arizona desert when the rain was pouring and the rivers were raging. She soon discovered the priceless value of light and heat in her soggy walking. Sunshine Waterfall knew that her previous choices had made her weak, and she felt herself awakening to the greatness within her. She had solid goals and was driven to making them a reality. She gained a great appreciation for her parents and others who were striving to lift and help her in her life. She was able to take an honest look at her life and decide that she wanted something different. And all of these awakenings happened within only a couple of weeks.

Her third week on the trail, Sunshine Waterfall began to question the necessity of continuing her walking. She claimed to have had all the awakenings she needed to have. As she walked, she wondered, “Why do I have to keep hiking? I have learned all I need to learn. I’m sure I could learn the same things sitting in camp or even at home.” She reasoned with herself that there was no need to hike more mountains or trip over any more stones or fall into any more cold creeks. In fact, Sunshine Waterfall was quite ready to make her case and politely ask to be taken home. When…

I’m not sure when it happened. I’m not sure that she could even tell you–but she had one of the most important awakenings of all. Sunshine Waterfall caught a glimpse of herself before she had come to the trail. She remembered what it felt like to be hopeless and scared. She remembered being flat on her face without any idea how to get herself back up again. She took a look at herself truthfully and was able to admit her weakness. She realized that for all of the awakenings she had been having, and for all of the goals she had for herself for her return home, she was still learning how to pick herself up off the ground and stand strong. “I’m only just about at my knees right now,” she explained to me, “and for as much as I hate to hike and as hard as it is, I finally get it. I am physically walking so I can emotionally stand on my feet.”

The next three weeks, her steps had new meaning. Her feet were still blistered and her face was still sunburned. The stones still moved beneath her weak ankles, and the cliffs and mountains and mesas still stood before her, ready to be conquered. But Sunshine Waterfall walked with new purpose. And she taught me a valuable truth. I, like Sunshine Waterfall, am walking to stand on my feet. No matter how confident I am, or how much I have been taught, I must keep putting one foot in front of the other. I must be persistent in my walking, or I will quickly find myself flat on my face, without hope. I am grateful to the young people who walk when they are tired and hot and bruised, for they teach me with their steps how to live with hope.