I tend to be a cautious person. Growing up I was the one that played it safe. I was the kid in the snow that dragged his sled only halfway up the hill because the hill was to steep. I was afraid. Fear is actually an interesting thing. It can really paralyze a person. One of the most common questions I get from people regarding me going on the World Race is if I am afraid. I would be a liar if I said no. However, I have made a decision to not let fear dictate how I live my life. I tend to be an organized person. Just ask my family, they say my bedroom looks like a hotel room. I also like having a schedule. I like routine. These things equate safety for me because I have control. However, these are all things I am going to be giving up in the coming months. I am afraid of relinquishing control of my organized life and future. I am afraid of leaving my family. I am afraid of the unknown. I am afraid of climbing all the way up the steep hill and sledding down. These are all great reasons to talk me out of going. To be honest though, that’s not really living. For me, following Christ used to feel so boring. Maybe it’s because I was doing it wrong. This was until I discovered that Christ is usually found in places where you’re afraid to go, like the top of the hill. What he really wants is for you to follow him past your fears and put your faith in him.
I am frequently reminded of the many things I would not have done if I would have let fear dictate my decisions. I definitely would have never gotten a drivers license. I would not have ever stepped foot into college. I also would have never bought a plane ticket and gone backpacking through Europe alone. Each one of these represent things that have added so much to my life and could have easily been missed if I would have let fear determine my choices. That’s why the older I get the more I believe that if you are afraid to do something, you probably should do it because that’s where Christ is waiting for you.
