Plunge

Written by cycleguy on January 26th, 2015

The sanity of our youth pastor, Ryan, has been called into question before…by me. Now I have no doubt.

Sunday after our second worship a group of us took off for the church camp we send our kids to, Hilltop Christian Camp, between Nashville and Columbus. No, that is not Nashville, TN and Columbus, OH. πŸ™‚ Indiana people. Indiana. This past year we sent close to 20 students and numerous faculty members (as well as some summer workers) to Hilltop. The church makes it a priority to help any and all who need help in experiencing what we believe can be a life-changing week during the summer. Even if they are not regular members of the youth program, we help. If they need/want it.

The Polar Plunge was a fund-raising event to help offset the cost of running the camp. Hilltop, like most church camps, runs on a shoestring budget and is dependent on donations from churches and individuals. The Polar Plunge was designed to help hold costs down. Their only “requirement” was to raise $300. We had two from OVCF raise money to participate. Tiffany has been a lifeguard the past few summers and Ryan was a dean of a Wilderness Week this past summer. He will do the same this summer.

Last year it was so cold they had to use chainsaws to take out blocks of ice. This year the water was cold but with our recent temps in the 30s and 40s there was only a thin film of ice. Still cold but not as bad. A total of about 13 (I failed to count) braved the cold water to take the plunge. The worse part, in my mind, was not the cold water. It was the pond (and all that goes with one) they “plunged” into. Ryan said the initial plunge numbed him, then it wasn’t so bad…until he got out.

A good amount of money was raised for Hilltop. No one was a frozen popsicle. And I now have a new description for Ryan

CERTIFIABLE

I’m actually proud of Ryan’s willingness to help the camp. Plenty of people from OVCF pledged money for him to do it. And I got to witness taking “nuts’ to a whole new level. πŸ˜›

Have you ever done a Polar Plunge? Seen one? Dreamed of doing one?

 

24 Comments so far ↓

  1. Sharon says:

    OK, Bill – the quick answers to your questions. No. Yes. Maybe??

    And I think “Certifiable” is a good name. And it sounds like Ryan would adopt it with a full and happy attitude!! I suppose when it’s a good cause, we can be motivated to do all sorts of crazy things! And this certainly was a good cause.

    I think the coldest I’ve ever been was camping in Joshua Tree (CA) in January, in a tent and sleeping bag, when the temps dropped down to around 20. Call me koo-koo, too – (but not to my face?!)

    πŸ™‚

    • cycleguy says:

      Ryan does have a great sense of humor and we will laugh about this after he reads it. I don’t ever see me doing this though. That is why they call me “sane.”

  2. Daniel says:

    I won’t even get into the shower in the morning until the water has run for 5 minutes to get fully up to temp. Can you say wimp? But good on Ryan!

  3. Kari Scare says:

    My youngest son did one last year. He was 13 at the time. My oldest was there (15 at the time) and said “no way.” Personality differences for sure played a role. One did it to prove he would. The other did it to prove he didn’t need to. Me? Never. I hate being cold, which is ironic since I live in Michigan.

    • cycleguy says:

      Different personalities for sure. As for me? I don’t ever plan to. Maybe when i was Ryan’s age (30) I would have considered it. Does seem sort of ironic where you live and hating cold.

  4. Betty Draper says:

    No, yes and no never dreamed of doing one. But could if the need was right and I would applaud anyone who would take the plunge to help. I bet the kids at church love Ryan…they love seeing adults doing crazy stunts.

  5. I think it is wonderful that Ryan has this kind of attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes. I’m with the people who need to run the shower until the hot water is going. I walk around in the summertime with a sweater on and wear three layers in the winter in the house…so I will not be taking a polar plunge in this lifetime. God Bless him! πŸ™‚

    • cycleguy says:

      I know someone else who likes to run around with that many clothes on. Oh yeah, it is my wife. πŸ™‚ Me? Sweats or shorts and a T are fine. But jumping into an icy pond? Nah.

  6. I have no desire whatsoever to do the Polar Plunge, but I sure admire Ryan’s willingness to do so all for a wonderful cause. Blessings, Bill!

  7. As crazy as it sounds, this is something I’d do for a good cause. I was at someone’s house a year or two ago who had a hot tub and a huge pool. It was the middle of winter and we took turns going from the hot tub into the pool and then back into the hot tub. I can still remember the eerie feeling as I jumped into the pool. It seemed like time slowed down before I hit the water. I remember thinking “What in the world am I doing?” Then a cold, cold, cold splash. It took your breath away.

    But it sounds like they had a fun time and raised some money.

    • cycleguy says:

      You remind me of a scene from Eight Below going from hot tub/room to freezing Antarctic weather. Makes me shiver just thinking about it. And yes, I would question your sanity. πŸ™‚

  8. Zee says:

    Lots of people do it here in Ukraine on January 19 – the celebration of Jesus’ baptism. Sam did it a few times (although not the last couple of years since he met me… I am not a fan of cold water and I want kids…)…

    Would I do it? If there was a reason big enough for me to do it. Otherwise, just because everyone does it, I wouldn’t do it. I hate winter and being cold.

    • cycleguy says:

      You make me chuckle Zee. If you hate winter, why not move to Indiana. Hint hint. It is a tad bit warmer than Ukraine. πŸ˜›

      • Zee says:

        Actually, this winter is incredibly warm for Ukraine… It has barely been below freezing for more than a few days. The weather starting from Saturday will be in mid 40s.

        Re: moving to Indiana – we’ll see what happens, come May. We applied for a Green Card last year and the results will be in May. Who knows? πŸ˜€

        • cycleguy says:

          If this happens you KNOW i will want to spend some time with you guys!! I will want to introduce you to Jo and the church here. I would be so stoked to finally meet you both.

  9. floyd says:

    I won’t even put my toe in the swimming pool in Arizona after October… Hats off to Ryan!

  10. Pam says:

    And that is why people in their 60’s are not youth pastors!!! It takes someone certifiable to be one! Come to think of it, I bet Jesus was considered certifiable. Way to go Ryan!