We believe in sourcing as many things as possible locally and promoting local growth through small business. Springtime pollen dances through the air on the songs of young robins and sparrows. The sun preheats the air like a convection oven preparing for pot roast. College Game Day is probably in Tuscaloosa again, but everyone in the group is focused on the new adventure that awaits. The anticipat
ion builds for us young college students, we have the whole day and our whole lives ahead of us. What will we do with our lives? No one is quite sure at this point, but we do know what is on the agenda for the day. We are going to the Blue Hole. There is frantic anticipation and nervous excitement that accompany the carpe diem attitude so prevalent in college students. The Blue Hole is a rite of passage for all newcomers of that small University in Chattanooga Tennessee. It is impossible not to hear about The Blue Hole on your first day on campus. The Blue Hole is a 20-minute drive from our downtown campus; unassuming country roads and old country stores usher you to a gravel parking lot that is easily missed if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Our caravan of 3 cars and 8 explorers disembark and gather our survival supplies and bathing suits and begin the rest of the journey, which is to be made on foot. The first obstacle the group must maneuver is a river crossing. A recent rain has elevated the water above knee level and caused the river to tumble down its path at a speed that is approaching dangerous. The group is not deterred and uses teamwork, by linking arms and making a human ladder to successfully cross the river. Once everyone is on the other side, elation and overwhelming confidence that we can overcome any obstacle on this journey and subsequently, life’s journey, start to inspire confidence in the group. The rest of the trek is much easier and takes us about 30 minutes to arrive at the final destination. As we crest the final hill, we get our first glimpse of the star of the show, the spot known as The Blue Hole. The first leg of the journey is complete, and we have a sense of accomplishment about it, but the adventure is just beginning. Wowsers. All words that describe what we saw and felt when we first laid eyes on this hidden oasis. The river gathers and slows to a crawl where it curves near a cliff. That has caused the river to become extremely deep in that particular spot, creating The Blue Hole. There are locals swimming and jumping off the cliffs and the rock. Groups of families and friends claim their real estate on top of the huge rock that is the piece de resistance of The Blue Hole. The rock is enormous, and it looks like it was placed in the river just so the locals and daring college students could test their medal as they peer over the edge. From the water looking up, it seems as if the rock extends to the heavens, much like Mt. Everest does I imagine. From the top looking down you can see your soul in the reflection of the water below. Fears of death and permanent injury loom, but that is when you truly learn who you are at your core. That one beautiful rock, sitting innocently in the river has been a destination for all the youth in the area and has inspired freedom and adventure in all that have been fortunate enough to come across it. The Plunge. After you’ve found a spot to set your towel and whatever refreshments you may have brought, it is time to jump. The back side of the rock acts as a nice ramp to the summit. The first few steps: easy. Uh-oh, a few more steps and you find that your feet are a little heavier. You press on. Half-way up and your knees go weak. Three quarters of the way there and time slows down, you can hear your heartbeat and taste your breath. Just a step away and you aren’t sure exactly what your name is. You are on the edge now and you are just praying that the butterflies in your stomach will flap their wings hard enough to lower you gently to the safety of the ground below. Toes curled on the edge, eyes closed, no breathing. The rock puts you in a trance. A friend, whom you now want to punch in the throat, comes behind you and you snap out of the daze of the Siren’s Song. Suddenly, you are on the edge, but you don’t remember how you got there. You open your eyes. Expletive deleted. You look down into the abyss. Standing there in that moment, you discover who you really are. You have nothing, except your swim trunks and what makes you who you are. The questions race through your mind, “What am I doing here? Who am I? What if? What if?” The only way to answer those questions is to jump. In that moment of uncertainty, the choices you make will reveal who you are to yourself. I personally am terrified of heights. Ladders, lifts, cliffs and tall trees are all a no-fly zone for me. That giant rock was particularly intimidating. Sitting there all smug and prominent, yet with an aloofness that draws me in even closer. When I heard about The Blue Hole my first thought was fear. That was followed quickly by excitement. I believe the only way to overcome your fears is facing them head on. That is how you grow. I saw this fun Saturday out with friends as an opportunity to grow as a man. I made that intrepid journey up the back of that giant rock. Each step seemingly harder and further than the last. As I approached the apex, I slowed to a snail’s pace, crippled with fear. Then the resolve I was looking for found me. I remembered why I was there. I was there to grow and face my fears. On the edge of that rock, toes over the edge, I discovered who I was. I am an overcomer. I have fears, but I face them and conquer them. I am a conqueror. All I have to offer is who I am. I learned that in times of most uncertainty, the important things become clear. I jumped in that water, never to be the same again. The Blue Hole provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. The Blue Hole provides a mirror into your soul. The Blue Hole allows you the opportunity to overcome your fears. The Blue Hole is a pillar and icon in the community that provides a place for people to discover themselves and grow closer to those closest to them. I want my pizzeria to have the same effect on the community as The Blue Hole in Chattanooga does on its community. I want it to be a place where families can come and spend time together. I want it to be an escape from the harshness of life, where people can enjoy a fine pizza and forget about their troubles for even just a few minutes. I want it to be a place of growth. After my college friend brought me on my first trip to The Blue Hole in Chattanooga Tennessee, I kept the tradition alive by bringing other new students to The Blue Hole. With my restaurant, I want to do the same thing. I want to raise up young pizza lovers and mentor them on how to reach their goals in life and provide the opportunities to succeed. This accomplishes my goals of improving the community through investing in its members; and expanding the brand and influence of The Blue Hole Pizza Company.
