Last night, along with millions of other television viewers worldwide and an on site audience exceeding 100K, I tuned in to watch Nik Wallenda attempt to walk a high wire from the US to Canada across the brink of Niagara Falls.  And while I was as excited as anyone to watch such a foolhardy crazy brave nutjob man perform a feat that until recently was illegal since the 1890’s, I couldn’t help but wonder what motivated the munchkin to do it. Beyond his legacy as a 7th generation high-wire walker, I mean.

Was it Canada’s national health care plan that spurred the jaunt? A hankering for bacon? An outdated passport? A loose wire in his own noggin? Such were the questions in my mind as I nestled in beside Jimmy to watch. Well, that’s not exactly true. I told him to quit hogging the couch, grabbed several pillows from behind his back, adjusted the overhead lighting, and then I nestled in beside him to watch. A couch potato’s gonn’ couch potato, am I right?

After praying with his family for what seemed far too short a time given the maelstrom he wanted God to cover, 33 year-old Nik broke from the huddle and got down to business. Or up to business. A scissor lift spirited him to his start point above the Falls, and like the boy version of Tinkerbell, the diminutive daredevil mounted the 2 inch thick wire sporting one-of-kind, elkskin soled slippers made by none other than Mama Wallenda herself. Other aids included a safety tether reminiscent of Fear Factor stunts, a headset radio connecting him to his coach, and a handheld phone weighing a whopping 38 pounds! Continue reading →…