What have you done in your life that took courage?

This is what my boss asked us all in our staff meeting: What have you done that took courage?

Sitting there quietly, hands knitted together, making eye-contact so as not to seem distracted or weak; I let him finish and I listened as my friends and coworkers stood up to speak about skydiving, surviving strokes, having kids, traveling on missions trips, going to college… so many amazing things.

And while I can remember doing individually impressive things that took courage, the truth is… for me…

 

EVERYTHING TAKES COURAGE

Getting out of bed

Answering the phone

Calling AT&T

Singing when you can hear me

Talking to my neighbors

Admitting to really liking something

Going after my dreams

Parenting my girls

Creating from my heart

Everything

Calling AT&T takes as much courage as skydiving, for me.

But now, I have come to a place in life where I realize, I cannot take fear into consideration anymore – at least not anxiety, worry, insecurity. FEAR in it’s purest, most primal force, can save our lives. I am not talking about that kind of fear… I am talking about the insidious kind that takes us captive, binds us, so that we never grow in the direction of the sun.  We bend and warp to it’s controls. We never grow straight and strong. I don’t want that for me and I surely don’t want that for You or my daughters.

So remember today; the day this very scared person told you to be brave. DO IT AFRAID.

So remember today; the day this very courageous person told you to be brave. DO IT AFRAID.

This is why I wrote this poem, “Hello, Monsters”

 

“Tell fearful souls,
    “Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here.”

Isaiah 35:3