Are You Bound By Fears?

Are you missing out
on what God has for you because
you’re bound by fears?

My mom and dad are living their golden years
in a great neighborhood with tons of friends.
My mom, who is 76, walks 4 or 5 miles a day –
usually with her “Yoo Hoo” girlfriends.

(As the girls walk by her house, they call,
“Yoo hoooooo, are you walking today?”)
My dad, who is 85, still golfs
18 holes 3 or 4 times a week
under the blistering summer FL sun.

They live life large …
in a small radius.

They have everything they want and need close by.
Grocery stores.
Malls.
Theaters.
Restaurants.
Friends.
Doctors and dentists.
Everything.

Recently, they had an invitation to a high state occasion
back in Wisconsin, but they were nervous about going.

3000 miles is a L O N G drive.
They were uneasy about navigating the umpteen lanes of traffic
in Atlanta, Nashville and Chicago.
The traffic is lighter at night,
but they hesitated driving in the dark.
What if the car broke down?
What if they needed to find a rest stop and didn’t feel safe?

Flying was an option,
but the occasion had just just popped up
and they doubted they could find reasonably priced airfares.

Who would mow the lawn,
water the plants,
fill in on the golf league and
take over their volunteer positions?

Anxiety blocked every pathway,
pushing my parents further and further away
from a yes.

Circumstances could have persuaded them to
STAY HOME WHERE IT’S EASY AND SAFE.

My folks had some legitimate concerns.
but they didn’t let their fears hold them back.

At the last minute,
they booked their flights
using their new-fangled smart phones.
They got on a plane and flew to WI.

Boom!
That’s right!

They pushed through the fear.
They did it scared.

And, they had a ball!

In addition to the high state occasion,
they saw all the kids,
visited dad’s 6 brothers,
and ate really some good
cheese and sausage!

And to think they almost missed it
by succumbing to the fears and concerns
they had about traveling.

I’m so proud of my folks
for pushing past the fear and the worry.

Fear can hold you down from the
very thing God is waiting to gift you.

From the things that would make your life richer.
From the life you’ve been missing.

Sometimes, you just gotta do it scared.

What are you putting off
or giving up
or going without
because you’re worried or afraid to try?

Girlfriend, don’t miss the life 
Jesus died to extend to you.

Pull the trigger.
Get it going.
Drop the dime.
Do it!

Then write and tell me how it went.

Prayer: God, your word says, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV) Give me the courage to push past fear and embrace the adventure you have for me. Amen