Someone to look up to

There are a lot of people in my life that I admire.  I am blessed to be surrounded by some really smart, kind, funny, generous people who show me in small ways every day how to be a better person.  But one person in particular stands out after this weekend:  my 16 year old nephew Jered.

When I say I look up to him, I mean I literally look up to him!  The kid climbed the world's tallest climbing wall at BaseCamp in Reno this weekend.  He was already plenty impressive.  He is the strong, silent type.  The type who doesn't speak a lot, but when he does you should listen closely because it will be supremely clever, funny or kind.  He has repeatedly run the Race to Robie Creek in Boise, Idaho, starting when he was 12!  It is a brutal 1/2 marathon and the only complaint I've heard from him is "my feet got hot". 

So I shouldn't have been surprised when he said he wanted to climb the 164' wall that juts out over Virginia Street in downtown Reno.  As with everything he was completely nonchalant.  But I should know that if Jered says he's going to do something (run a race, send me a book he enjoyed, or climb a freaking wall) he WILL do it.  And do it he did!  He isn't a climber but he climbed right up that wall.  He didn't overthink it.  He didn't allow anyone to get inside his head.  He just climbed up a wall!

Every "Great job man!" or "Way to go!" was met with a quiet, unassuming "Thank you." 

"Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Did you look down?"
"Of course."
"Were you afraid?"
"Not really."
"Aren't you excited?"
"Sure."

Some people really are all about doing, not talking about doing.  He inspired his entire family, and 50 or so spectators on the street, by doing what he said he'd do.  THAT is someone to look up to.

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