Overcoming Fear

The rafters in the chapel rise 42 feet in the air. It was hard enough roofing this castle, my heart was continually pounding. Insulation came next, as you can see here. Allot has been completed since then, drywall and paint.

There is one section of the castle that is almost impossible to reach from the lift. It is about a 2 foot wide section between the entry and the soaring roof beams. It has remained unpainted for over a year because of the difficulty in reaching it.

Yesterday, I started with every intention of doing this frightening task on my own. After the second lift up I succumbed to my fears and enlisted Brittany's help. She was fearless (Or perhaps, has made the decision to control her fear)

To get to the highest point we had to move the lift to the opposite side of the beam, thus placing us another foot from our intended painting spot over 36 feet in the air. With lift swaying like a drunken sailor, Britt climbed atop the highest cross member and with one hand gripping the beam and the other rolling smoothly the paint over that frightening gulf which had daunted me. She painted as close to the beam as she could and then rolled it out to insure easy reach from the 3rd balcony. I was the perfect assistant at this point, loading the roller so she didn't have to climb up and down. After completing both sides of the ceiling, with one quick step she leaped from beam to railing and was on the balcony. My heart was in my throat, as she finished painting from the safety of the balcony.

Hiring a painter would be easier, but how do we challenge our fears with out "DOING"? It is wonderful to have family leap in when there is something you just can't do.