Shine Your Light

GUEST BLOOGER:

To the readers, followers, fans, naysayers, and awed spectators to Jim’s plight, blog, and character. My name is Justin and Jim and I have known each other for about 8 years now. Jim was my guide on a trip I did way back then and I will never forget the admiration that I had for him and the guide service he worked for. My admiration and respect were such that I continued to hire the guide service for years to come. I eventually convinced my wife that these guys were not your typical guides and that she could actually excel and these guys were the most patient instructors I had ever known. Jim was a standout then as he is now. His patience, demeanor, and character just drew you in. I was amazed at the way he could communicate his point and how he truly cared about those on his rope. Sierra (my wife) finally came on a trip to the Wichita Mountains on a 2 day beginner’s course. We have been hooked ever since. I have stayed in touch with Jim over the years and we occasionally trade phone calls. I have followed his blog since he started it and have been absolutely shocked at its progression. The progression he has made, and the choices he makes are nothing short of astounding.

You may ask yourself “who is this guy and who cares”? Well, I am an attorney who practices family law and Sierra is a clinical psychiatrist. We are surrounded by this type of situation on a daily basis. Jim became a true friend over the years and we grew to respect this man and look up to him for his outdoor leadership, teaching methods, and passion for all in his life. We knew Jim before Keeley was born. We thought we knew a proud father then, and that was true, but after the addition of his daughter, Jim was overflowing with amazement and joy each night around the fire. He would talk about his kids and little else. He always missed them and would often drive back into town to call them, or to the top of Mt. Scott where he had reception. Unlike most doting fathers, Jim was ever overjoyed with the woman he shared his life with, not JUST the gift she gave him, but HER as well. Sierra and I were drawn to the sense of completeness he conveyed when he talked about his family. It was ALL THE TIME. The guy would spend all night telling you funny stories about his kids and telling you how amazing his wife was. He always spoke of her beauty and how he still tingled when she touched him. We all only hope for that kind of love in our lives.

When Sierra and I learned that Jim had moved to Colorado, and we’d not see him in the gym or on the rock anymore, we were sad but overjoyed that he finally threw caution to the wind and chased his dreams. Par for course for Jim. You see, Jim is unlike your average Joe. He dreams, much like the rest of us, but Jim dreams deeper, more passionately, and with a sense of purpose. He dreamed of a “ Life Up High” where he could show his children the wonders of the world. A life of adventure and mountain breezes. I imagine that Jim found that place and that he and Peg found that in each other. Now Sierra and I could analyze this situation to no end, but this is different. This is “Sherpa Jim”. The guy who always carried more than the guys next to him and who would always encourage you to push yourself to a level that you had never been to before. Jim did not just touch our lives, when he went on to manage a gym in Grapevine, Texas he continued to touch lives and draw in friends from all walks. Jim was the guy who would solo up next to the scared housewife, or conservative executive, on a climb and place no judgment upon him or her. He would simply place his hand on your back and tell you “look at me – you CAN do this just as you have accomplished everything else in your life”. That is a direct quote, spoken to me as I held on for dear life and just begged to come down. I will never forget those words or the hand on my back, or the fact that the crazy bastard had no rope. He cared not of his plight, only that a scared attorney at law could make it to the top. I often use that memory to push myself beyond what I think possible. I will not forget that climb or the gentle eyes that calmed all the demons inside. My wife had a similar experience with Jim and she too sits next to me as I write with tears in her eyes for the man with a heart bigger than any mountain he could face. A spirit as vast as the landscapes he has peered into.

Sierra and I contacted Jim when we realized his comments had disappeared from his blog. In our professions we are constantly surrounded by turmoil and we found it nice to come home and read his blog postings together. Two highly educated professionals who found a place to escape. We have spent the last few months making it a ritual to come home and look for new posts. When they were there, we’d pop open a bottle of our favorite red and just read. Then we’d go each night and read the feedback and be utterly astounded at what we read. Some of it was quite harsh at times, but it seemed justified. Here was this man who had his heart ripped out, stepped on, spat on, and thrown to the side, walking tall and coming back a better man. It was like watching an incredible boxing match where the underdog comes back to his feet and has that stare, that look of renewed life. That fight where the underdog comes back and lets his spirit fly. That is Jim my friends. What really floored us was the fact that he was still loving to his wife even when it seemed he was down for the count. This guy didn’t just call his blog “Life Up High” by accident, it is who he is. It is the soul that soars like an eagle. The Jim we know was just a precursor to what he is becoming. We exchanged many high fives over those bottles of wine. It was better than watching a movie. We each began to admire this man and genuinely wish that we could learn from him, like the moments we shared on a rope; here he was putting himself aside to be sure she was not belittled. Amazing are the words that we have said time and again.

We found ourselves drawn to his writing. We would spend our days counseling and arguing for people in this same situation. We have both been in practice for over 20 years each and NEVER have we seen someone handle this with so much class. Never have I seen a love so passionate, resolute, and true. Sierra actually asked a few of her patients to read Jim’s blog. Each one came back and discussed it with her and on every occasion the patient and doctor were crying. Jim touches those he isn’t even near and those he doesn’t even know. So all this being said; we were pretty alarmed when we noticed that his comments were gone. Why? Why would he do that? So we called and spent 3 hours on the phone with him this week, in one conversation I might add. Once again he was trying to protect the one that he has loved with all that he is. He and Sierra talked about the darkness that often consumes someone who is trying to justify their actions, and all Jim could do was take blame. I am here to tell you people that we don’t count Jim blameless. He is human and still young. We don’t “blame” anyone. We asked Jim if we could write a post for his blog to tell what we thought. He reluctantly agreed and asked that we not bash Peg (again stepping up). We respect his wish, but we also have to say that while we would not bash someone who we do not know, it is evident that this man has something exceptional within. His writing has touched so many. We encouraged him to seek a publisher, yet he says his energy needed to be spent “bringing light to his kids”. Tears fall from my eyes as I type that. I am just saddened that he would take away the voice of the people, the comments, for that is how we can all share what we feel and what he has done for us. I do not know if he will put them back up, but I encourage anyone reading this to continue to reach out to this family. To pray, if you pray. Pass on good will if that is what you do, but do not forget the things you have learned from this, and do not negate the person that he has become and the fact that you too can live this way. To those of you who push him to publish, stop asking him to do something about it and do it yourself. Write your local newspaper editor and point them to his blog. Write your favorite self help column and do the same. Magazines or whatever formats you can imagine his writing in. Send every friend you can to his blog. We have seen his “profile views” go from just over 100 to 400+ in 3 months. People are reading. Send your friends and send their friends. This man has a gift beyond writing. Jim is more than a climbing guide. He guides us through the process of forgiveness and love. His compassion will live well beyond his body. His spirit will always be there when I feel that fear while climbing. Jim- you are a good man and I wish my clients going through divorce could behave the way that you have. You said you were a “mess” and that your emotions were “all over the place”. Trust me my friend; you are handling yourself better than ANYONE I have seen in all of my years in practice. We have asked Jim to post this unedited. Keep writing, loving, caring, teaching, guiding, and forgiving. She may be gone Jim, but you are here to stay and many people benefit from you being on this earth.
All the best,
Justin & Sierra T.

PS,
Something we also love about your blog is how your pictures and/or titles always play into what you are writing. So why don't you pick a picture for this one buddy.