Last time we met here, I was on a riverbank eyeing that red devil raft and swirling white water. I mentally freaked out, fighting real and imagined fears. I froze and folded. “Nope. No way. I can’t do this.”
Then there was Jeff, my husband, volunteering to sit up front. His mischievous grin, usually endearing, is quite annoying in times like these. Shaking my head, I looked to the back of the raft. There stood our 6-foot-plus mountain man river guide. Birdman seemed a tad over baked in the Tennessee sun. His eyes were wide and wild like his smile.
Everything in me resisted. But, Jeff’s a strong swimmer and already invested over half his life keeping me safe. So, I figured he’d jump in after me.I wish I could say it was courage. Probably more like pride. Either get in the raft or eat my words about living large and crushing comfort zones.
Overwhelming fear tempts us to give up before we even start.
A couple months before the rafting trip, I decided to write my book. Fear of failure was saying, “Nope. No way. You can’t do this.” For a while, that undertow held me. I froze, folded, and wanted to forget about it.
But, I realized that not trying was already failing. I accepted that maybe I didn’t have a book in me. And that was okay. Whatever the outcome ~ whatever I learned in the process ~ I knew it would be good. Even better than I could ask or imagine. That’s the way it goes with God. So, I took the next scary step. I breathed deep, closed my eyes, and trusted him with the rest.
Like when I stepped onto the front of the raft and launched into the unknown. It’s the most terrifying, stretching, exciting thing I’ve ever done. Mostly scary. Really scary.
When’s the last time you tried something new? Maybe you want to write or sing or take a college course. Please, stop telling yourself you can’t. Just do it. Try new recipes. Read a different genre of books. Take an art class or buy some crayons and tap into that kid in you. And don’t say you’re too old. It’s never too late to live before you die. Until then, there’s always something new to learn.
Instead of imagining the worst and listening to lies, trust yourself, your passions, and your Good Guide. If needed, he’ll jump to your rescue. Every time. Do something fun, and maybe a tad scary. Feed your soul, my friend. It’s all about abundance, baby. Get in the raft and hold on. It’s gonna be a wild ride.
“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” ~ Ephesians 3:20-21
Photo at top: Robin, front left, screaming. Jeff, front right, laughing 🙂 Daughter, Hannah, behind him.