Attempt 1: Well that looks more like scrambled eggs.
Attempt 2: I don’t think the yolk is supposed to look like that…
Attempt 3: Only I could burn an egg.
Attempt 4: At least it tastes good.
Attempt 5: Almost got it!
Attempt 6: Now THAT is an over easy egg.
I usually don’t like to do anything that I’m not good at. I know what you’re thinking. How could you possibly do anything then? No one is automatically good at something from the first attempt. I can’t answer that because everything I do now, I’ve done forever. I honestly don’t remember the last time I tried something new.
The other day I decided I would try something that’s kind of fairly important to know in order to live – cooking. I figured at some point next year, I’ll probably have to cook and thought it might be handy to know a few basic things.
An over easy egg. That can’t be too hard, right?
You turn on the stove, crack open an egg, put the egg in a pan, and you flip it over. Easy, right? Yeahhhh… no. In theory it’s neat and tidy and easy, but put it in to practice and well, you’re bound to fail a few times.
Walking with Jesus can look like that sometimes. Jesus says to love your neighbor like you love yourself. Pretty simple to understand, right? Now put it into practice. Not so easy, is it?
I have been known to shy away from things that God has asked of me because I knew I couldn’t do it perfectly. I knew I would make a mistake. What if I say the wrong thing and compromise a salvation or make someone feel worse than they already do?
How foolish to think that God can’t use a screw up like me. After all, it’s the only kind of person He’s ever used.
Speaking in front of people, I think, is one of the scariest things ever. People staring and all attention on me? You’re just asking to get stuttering and incessant rambling. I know I will mess up so I try to avoid it altogether. Why would someone want to intentionally put themselves in a situation where they know they wouldn’t do well?
The thing about situations like that is that’s where you learn the most. Trial and error. Error. Not a particularly fun word. But a necessary one. One that helps you grow and push to be better. It may not be my first choice when needing to learn something, but sometimes it’s the only way.
The first time I shared my testimony was the scariest thing to date, but it had to be done. It prepared me for the next time.
And that will prepare me for the next time. And the time after that. And the time after that… Life is simply a series of events preparing you for the next one. One that you can’t conquer without having completed the previous task.
The next time I’m asked to do something out of my comfort zone, I pray that I would do it with a willing and teachable heart. I pray I wouldn’t back down in fear, but move forward in faith knowing that God will do more in that moment than I ever could. Maybe the first attempt will come out like scrambled eggs, maybe by the sixth time I’ll get better and get what I wanted – an over easy egg.
Here’s to trying and growing and believing that God’s grace will cover all my imperfections. Maybe after a few not so successful attempts, I’ll get good at whatever new things I’ll face next year!
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