Conquer Thy Fears
Where do I begin? Where do I start? How could I portray the thoughts of my heart? This life I'm living, this life I'm apart of is surreal sometimes, yet so worth it.
Let's begin with a story or two:
Ten of the thirteen of us here in Aninuan follow our Kuya Al (Kuya means brother in Filipino) along the paths of the jungle to a family's house that invited us to a wedding and fed us some interesting foods (pig intestine and blood soup). Yes, we didn't find out about it until after coming home to Kuya Al's house where we are staying. We put in a couple of requests and I trembled, yet…
Another ten of us followed Kuya Al into the wilds of the jungle. We traverse over land, through multiple legs of rivers and up into a mountain. The jungle is alive with the breadth of life…monkeys, tigers, every kind of bug…ridiculousness!! Yet, we continue and continue for what seems eternity. The purpose of our pilgrimage to get to the Aninuan Falls that we have been told is breathtaking and beyond beautiful! We get there and we are told the falls have a natural slide to it, I hesitated uncertain of what to do…
…So, back at the wedding the music starts playing and what do I do…I swallow the fear and dance my heart out. I let go of that trembling sensation and just have a good time. It was magical and glorious all in the same breath. I don't usually dance in front of people, at least not before the Race…I'm glad God has called me to this.
…Back at the Falls, I submerge myself in the water of the river that the Falls comes from and soak in the gracious beauty of the King. I pick myself up and again swallow the fear and take the treacherous climb up to the top of the Falls behind Shaun, Julie, and Annalisa. I make it to the top with the help of Kuya Al, wait my turn, and then slide into the grooved slide the Lord has created with the river. Deep breath…another deep breath…GO! I slide down a waterfall alongside the One who loves me and delight in His creation and beauty!! What a rush!! I had to do it again…
Anyways, I conquered fears that had crept up in me, which allowed me to experience things I normally wouldn't think of doing. Greater freedom comes when we walk into the Presence and strength of our Glorious Father, who delights in us overcoming the things which hold us back from being free in the first place.
All I can say is this…when you feel totally gripped by a paralysis of fear and think you cannot go forward, then stop, pray and charge forward anyway, after the King of Glory and all He has to offer! He's waiting for you to come closer! He's inviting you to come closer!
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." ~Galatians 5:1
I felt like I was in a double feature–The Goonies (the waterfall) and
Lord of the Rings (these columns here)…crazy beautiful!!
