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Do Something that Scares You!
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Sunday night, I did something that absolutely scared me.
Leanne and I kicked off our Guatemala Strategic Advisory Board (GSAB). We prayerfully gathered a group of individuals and couples we believed could provide wisdom, accountability, and prayer support for us as we consider what our future ministry to Guatemala might look like in the days, months, and years ahead.
I honestly didn’t think I would be terrified when I started. In fact, I figured everything would simply fall into place as a result of taking the next step. I knew Leanne and I needed some help discerning our next steps, but I figured our passions would naturally mesh with our stories from the past to pave an easy path towards the future.
I have a passion for building homes for widows and orphans, and Leanne has a passion for children and families. Surely, we could easily blend these passions into something that made sense to us, to our advisory board, and to others.
I think we’ll get there, but I think it’s going to take more time, more work, and more prayer.
When Leanne asked me last night what I thought of the evening with our GSAB, I responded with mixed thoughts and emotions. First, I was excited to see how God had led us to some amazing people with an amazing mix of experiences and skills. We have teachers, engineers, mechanics, homemakers, event planners, builders, business owners, tax collectors, marketers, and project managers on our team. We even have someone on the board who has served on two mission boards. I truly believe we have people on the GSAB who are so wise. I felt humbled to be surrounded by them.
My second response to Leanne was one of fear – not a bad fear – an appropriate fear of what we are entering.
When I initially read Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote above, I think of trying something new every day. As I ponder her words more, I realize there are times when we have to enter into the unknown in order to truly discover our selves, our mission, and our place in the world. The unknown can be scary. It’s not what we know. It’s not where we are comfortable.
Maybe we weren’t meant for comfort.
Where does it say in the Bible, “thou shall be comfortable”? I don’t think it does. (Contentment and comfort aren’t the same in my book.)
I guess some of my fear with the GSAB relates to coming to terms with the hard physical work, the hard mental work, the hard emotional work, and the hard spiritual work ahead of us.
What will be the outcome of our GSAB and our desire to serve in Guatemala?
I honestly don’t know.
I don’t know how much it will cost? I don’t know how much it will hurt? I don’t know much, but I know the journey will be worth it in the end.
I don’t want to live my life to be comfortable. I want to live a life that matters, and I ultimately want to live a life that points others to Christ and draws them to Him.