I did it, afraid!

I did something that scared me a few days back. I went zip lining. Not just one zipline, but eight! Yes, the kind where you are strapped to a wire and sent flying across a steep gorge and treetops, trusting in your gear, your guide, and gravity. My kids were beyond excited, cheering, bouncing, ready to go. Me? I was questioning every decision that led me to that platform. But I could not back out. Not just because once you start zip lining there’s literally no going back (eight zip lines, one way through), but because I have made it a point to teach my children courage. I tell them all the time: “It’s okay to be scared. Do it, afraid.” Well, it was time to walk or, rather, zip my talk.

1. Fear is not a stop sign,  it’s a signal.
Fear is natural. It tells us we are stepping out of comfort and into something that is challenging. It doesn’t mean “don’t do it.” It means “pay attention.” At the top of that first platform, I was still scared, but the fear reminded me I was alive, growing and learning.

2. Your cheerleaders matter.
The excitement and encouragement from my kids gave me just enough courage to clip in and go. After the first zipline, our ten year old son could see i was still scared, and he said, ” I will pray for you now  to have the courage to continue.” Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you even when you don’t quite believe in yourself is everything.

3. Courage doesn’t come before the leap. I didn’t feel brave before jumping off the platform. Sometimes, the courage only shows up once you are already in motion. My encouragement to you is to take that first step!

4. The only way out is through.
Once I zipped off the first platform, I had no choice but to keep going. Eight zip lines, one after the other. It was only after the second zipline that our instructors told us we had seven more to go. If i had known the full picture, I might have backed out. Sometimes, we don’t need an escape plan. We need a commitment to keep moving forward. In fact, our faith journey as Christians is the same. You don’t always know the full picture of what tomorrow holds, but if you trust ” the one” who is guiding you, you will be okay.

5. You don’t always need to feel ready to be ready. There is this illusion that we need to “feel” ready before doing big things. The truth is, most growth happens when we act before we are hundred percent sure. I didn’t feel ready. But I went. And now I’m glad I did. Would I do it again 🤔? I am not sure!

Gratitude: This week, I am grateful for new experiences and the courage to step out in faith, inspite of the fear.

I wish you a great week as you step out of your comfort zone in faith.

Gratefully