30 March 2026

Somethings have to be done once – breaking the four minute mile, climbing Everest, travelling to the moon. Once these things have been done, the way is open for others to follow. But the one who does it first has to have the courage to tackle what was regarded as impossible.

On 25 January, Alex Honnold, an American rock-climber, attempted to climb the Taipei 101 building in Taipei, Taiwan. He was being filmed by Netflix and presumably was given a handsome fee for carrying our this extraordinary feat.

The result was a documentary entitled, ‘Skyscraper Live’.  What was most astonishing about this climb up a skyscraper of metal and glass was Honnold’s determination to complete the feat without any assistance whatsoever.

The only prop which he carried with him was a little bag of white powder, chalk maybe, which he carried on his waist and continually placed his right hand into it to remove the moisture created by the climb. He had no rope, no safety harness, no parachute just himself and his bag of chalk dust.

Taipei 101 is almost 1,700 feet tall and it took Honnold an hour and a half to complete the task. Watching him caused moisture to build up on my hands and on more than one occasion, I jumped out of my seat at the sheer daring of it all.  He had such faith in himself, his strength, his skill to achieve this goal.

Since 2012, Honnold has been giving away a third of his income to various solar energy projects which are increasing access to energy worldwide. Faith in accomplishing impossible things and a generous heart are two vital qualities in those who are beginning to walk the way of this cross this Holy Week.