"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." -Benjamin Mee (We bought a Zoo). I heard this quote recently at "cinema under the stars" at my church. When I heard it I couldn't help but feel that it is true and I think I have already seen it work.
In April, I had taken my time filling out the application for the World Race, but I was putting off turning it in because I was afraid. Afraid of being rejected. I thought I was being lead to the World Race, but what if I was wrong? What if He said no? It would end this journey before it began. Afraid of being accepted and how that would change everything. Can I handle being away from my family for 11 months? Can I travel the world with 45 strangers and be ok? As I sat with my completed application frozen, my sister told me "just do it!" I mustered up 20 seconds of courage and submitted it. Now here I am, reassured in my calling to missions.
A few weeks ago, at training camp, I was trying to not be so shy and really get to know my squad. During that week I made myself step out of my comfort zone. Everything that I thought I wouldn't normally do, I decided I was going to do it. It was hard, but God kept putting opportunities to step out there, like getting up and talking to my squad and telling them how i was feeling.
Another opportunity cam when one activity they had for us was a dance off. I LOVE to dance and sing when i'm home…. alone and blasting music. So for the dance off I have my group and they give us one time to hear the 1 min clip of music to choreograph something for. They give us all of 2 mins to figure it all out and then we were going to have to perform it. My group hears Katy Perry "Firework" and quickly we come up with a great dance for the chorus , but for the first 20 seconds we have NOTHING! we here them call 10 seconds left. So here is my chance, open up, be goofy me. So I muster up all the insane courage I have and make sure my team is set for the chorus. The music starts and i turn to face the judges and full out start this crazy, silly lip sync/ interpretive dance. It was wild and crazy and so much fun. My squad and judges were so encouraging about it too! It really made me feel like it was ok to be whoever I am.
My plan for this year is to muster up those 20 seconds of insane courage everytime God calls me to do something. He has great things planned for me and I am not going to turn down any opportunity He has for me. When I feel doubt or scared of something He wants me to do, I'm going to suck it up and give God 20 seconds of insane courage and see the great things that come from it.
