Matt
urged me to turn back, “We’re not even sure this is the right one!” “This has
to be it!” I said, as I evaluated the plausibility of what the man said at the
ticket office below – “narrow passageway that leads up.”
We
were certainly climbing up, but, I really wasn’t sure this was it. All I knew
was that I couldn’t ignore this palpable desire to see where this tunnel was
leading. It was as though I was entranced by the romanticism of the moment,
walking in the footsteps of religious men before us.
As
Matt followed in close pursuit, I examined the walls, feeling along the dust
and gravel, hoping to find a grip in the dim light. I stood there, desperately
trying to decode the sequence of footwork needed to continue. After a moment of
thought, I leapt over the large gap beneath me and onto the next platform.
One by
one, I grasped the tiny holes bored into the stairs, and imagined the warm glow
of endless candles they must have contained. Matt pleaded with me, “I don’t
think we should go any further.”
But,
it was too late. We had reached a literal crossroads. It’s either go up and
continue forth into the rabbit hole or forever wonder if we were in the right
tunnel. We chose the path of the Mad Hatter and plunged further into darkness.
“I see
light!” I exclaimed. “We’re almost there!” We crawled up the final steps with
the excitement of a marathon runner, only to find another chute, impossible to
climb. Matt and I looked down the burrow we emerged from, dripping with chalk. What
had we gotten ourselves into – we were alone, inside the womb of a rock, with
only a fragmented sentence from the man at the ticket office to guide us. Reality
set in and our hands began to shake. The only way out was down. Matt went first.
I
watched as he made his way, strategically placing his hands and feet gingerly
on the crumbling stairs. Just as I was about to follow suit, six feet down, he froze.
All four of his limbs were stretched out, vibrating with nerves. His chin
buried in his chest.
“Are
you okay?” He responded with a deep inhale and I knew something was wrong. I
stood quietly and watched his movements. He was looking straight down, and at that
moment, he recognized how far he could fall with one ill placed step. I waited
patiently, praying that he would regain his composure. Not a moment too soon,
he slowly began retracing his steps downward once again.
It wasn’t
until we popped out onto the second floor of the church that we allowed the
gravity of the situation to wash over us. My hands were still shaking, but
oddly enough, I had a huge smile on my face. “Well, that was most insane, idiotic, and awesome thing we've every done.” Nevertheless, we made it out of there unscathed,
with shaken nerves, an element of danger and one hell of an experience.
DEAR MOMS:
We don't mean to scare you with this post. Please don't worry. We've learned our lesson and won't be doing this again. :)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS
DEAR MOMS:
We don't mean to scare you with this post. Please don't worry. We've learned our lesson and won't be doing this again. :)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS
Good thing we have prayed angels to protect you, they were doing their job that day! Don't scare me again!!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW you guys...just watching the photos made me nervous and I was scared for you. We know you are in good hands knowing that the good Lord and his Angels are watching over you both. Please don't scare us again!!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhew! Insanity!
ReplyDelete