(06/18/12) On June 15, 2012, Nik Wallenda fulfilled a life-long dream of crossing the Nigara Falls on a highwire. When he was six years old he visited the falls for the first time. He said, "That was when the vision came to me to walk across Niagara Falls."[1] Because the event was based upon a boarder crossing, from the US to Canada, it was ipso facto an international event. Amazingly, the Canadian customs officials asked Wallenda, “Do you have anything to declare?” in the way of goods after he had stepped off the wire.[2] What were they thinking? “Of course, yes, check my luggage and you’ll find everything!”
As a matter of fact Wallenda did have something to declare, a life-giving message much more poignant than what the customs officials were interested in. Nik’s goal was to help inspire others to take on difficult challenges and to overcome fear in life. Nik said, “People ask why I would do this, but it goes back to the reason why I wanted to do it in the first place," he said. "It wasn't to get rich, it was to pursue a dream and to inspire people.”[3] Onlookers such as Ernest Groening came all the way from Switzerland to watch history in the making.
How did Nik maintain his sense of poise and determination through this feat? For those present at the Nigra Falls June 15th, it became obviously clear. While crossing the dramatic falls, Nik was coached by his father using a two-way wireless microphone. But journalists and others in the audience could also overhear Nik’s prayers and praise to God through various lines of communication.
Nick is fairly famous with six Guinness Book records, but the faith aspect of his life was apparently a little too much for ABC News to handle, so the company that was supposed to report on the event censored this obvious aspect out of their journalism. ABC’s news “live blog” supposedly covering minute by minute news of the event did not mention the name Jesus once, the name that had been on Nik’s lips several times during this momentous occasion.[4] But many independent news companies and bloggers have covered this true aspect of the story. An Indian news company reported how “Along the way, he calmly prayed aloud.” And the secret of his success, "a lot of praying, that's for sure. But, you know, it's all about the concentration, the focus, and the training."[5]
Let’s face it, most of us could not walk 18 feet on a highwire, let alone 1,800 feet over a thundering, wind-swept, cold and misty Niagra Falls. We would be commenting on our nerves, not the beautiful view. It takes a special kind of combination of peace, poise and courage to accomplish such a task. To offer some examples of the challenge, consider some quotes by Nik.
"There was no way to focus on the movement of the cable. If I looked down at the cable there was water moving everywhere. And if I looked up there was heavy mist blowing in front of my face. So it was a very unique, a weird sensation.”[6]
After passing the halfway mark, Wallenda described his fatigue, "I'm strained, I'm drained," he said. "This is so physical, not only mental but physical.”[7]
Independent journalists reported on Wallenda’s meditative prayer that helped sustain him, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ,” an allusion to 2 Corinthians 5:21.[8] At another point in his walk he said, “Praise you, Father God. Praise you, Jesus!”[9] As the mists from the falls soaked him and blurred his vision, Wallenda was heard saying, "Thank you Jesus, my righteous king,”[10] And at another point, “You know I am so blessed to be in the position I am to be the first person in the world to be right here.”
The subject of inspiration is found frequently in Nik Wallenda’s quotes, “This is what dreams are made of, people. Pursue your dreams. Never give up. Mine might seem strange, but anybody that’s dealing with any battle – focus on that other side.”[11]
As Nik stated, he didn’t cross the Niagra Falls for money. A report outlined how Wallenda’s contract with ABC Television didn't pay him enough to cover the total cost and so Nik offered his time to donors for gifts. Nik offered VIP dinners and personal wirewalking lessons. However, when show-day came, ABC was less than fair and objective in their reporting on the event. Despite the censorship by mainstream media, Christian journalists have noted how the name of God was glorified throughout the world by objective journalists covering the event.
It’s of note that another living and famous highwire performer, Philippe Petit, also has a form of spiritual faith. Petit is famous for sneaking out and crossing a highwire between the Twin Towers 8 times on August 7, 1974. “He maintains an office in the church where he can go to nurture his spirit and play with the architectural models of high wire walks he stores there; indeed, he considers the Church his spiritual home and the Reverend James Parks Morton, the Dean whose support for the arts first embraced Petit, his spiritual father.”[12]
However, it’s less likely that Petit would be censored for his views because he does not seem to have a particular affinity for the name of Jesus, as noted in previous interviews, "Yes, of course, I'm a spiritual person." I believe in the human spirit and that it takes a kind of complex chemistry to do something beautiful and with passion. But I don't know what your definition of spiritual is.”[13]
References
[1] NPR, Daredevil High-Wired For Success Over Niagara Falls, http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=155165088 [2] Windsor Star,Wallenda completes 1,800-foot journey across Niagara Falls, http://www.windsorstar.com/news/national/Wallenda+completes+foot+journey+across+Niagara+Falls/6791328/story.html [3] Owen Sound Sun Times, Wallenda asks public to foot the bill - Owen Sound Sun Times, http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3573853 [4] ABC News, Nik Wallenda’s Niagara Falls High-Wire Walk: Live Blog, http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/nik-wallendas-niagara-falls-high-wire-walk-live-blog/ [5] NDTV, Nik Wallenda, first man to complete 1800-feet tightrope walk across Niagara Falls, http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/nik-wallenda-first-man-to-complete-1800-feet-tightrope-walk-across-niagara-falls-232156?ndtv_rhs [6] http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/nik-wallenda-first-man-to-complete-1800-feet-tightrope-walk-across-niagara-falls-232156?ndtv_rhs [7] Ibid. [8] WND, JESUS 'OMITTED' FROM NIAGARA FALLS CROSSING, http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/06/jesus-omitted-from-niagara-falls-crossing/?cat_orig=faith [9] Ibid. [10] Sympatico, Nik Wallenda makes historic Niagara Falls walk, http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/home/nik_wallenda_makes_historic_niagara_falls_walk/621d4a25 [11] WND, JESUS 'OMITTED' FROM NIAGARA FALLS CROSSING, http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/06/jesus-omitted-from-niagara-falls-crossing/?cat_orig=faith [12] Ann Hutton, Philippe Petit: HIGH WIRE LIVE WIRE http://annhutton.com/2009/05/philippe-petit/ [13] News Blaze, Tete-a-Tete with the Flying Frenchman Who Once Walked between the Twin Towers, http://newsblaze.com/story/20080728140319tsop.nb/topstory.html
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