After picking us up at the train station, Steinar took us to the area where the 2004 Olympic ski jump competition took place. There is a building right next to the competition area that was built for the Olympics and it is now a high school. Students spend part of their day doing classwork and the rest of their day working on their ski jump skills. As we stood at the bottom of the hill, we watched these students fly through the air on their skis, perfecting their jumps and landings.

We got back in the car and Stienar took us up the mountain so that we were looking down at the ski jumps and out over the city of Lillehammer. As we stood looking out over the vast expanse, Steinar asked us if we were hikers. He then looked at our boots with excitement and told us, I will meet you at the bottom of the mountain. Take those steps and keep to the right. This is an exercise I do with my groups. I bring the 2 groups up here and then I have them walk down these steps together. See if you can feel the power of this experience as you, too, walk these steps!”

And so we began our descent. Amidst, snow and ice we gingerly walked down the very steep, steep metal steps. At times, all I could do was stare at my feet and the steps, being oh so careful not to slip. Then I would take a deep breath and look up and out at the beauty around me, then back to what was right in front of me, then out to what was all around me, then back to the narrow focus of my feet, then out taking in the wonder and beauty of it all. At times, fear would overtake me and my steps would become very small and my breath would quicken and nausea would flow through me. Then I would remind myself to breath, and I would look out over the beauty all around me and I would feel a great peace and the fear and nausea would dissipate. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to take this trip with people I considered my enemies and to feel their fear and their awe right along side mine. My narrow focus on my feet and the steps, quickly became a metaphor for my own narrow focus during times of conflict. My focus can become so small and then fear and anger overtake me. When I take a breath and move my focus from my narrow perspective to take in the greater picture, only then can I find peace and clarity of mind.