Thursday, August 30, 2007

What if I stumble...what if I fall?

Yep...I just referenced a DC Talk song!

So, last night I headed to DQ with my friend Katie. To anyone who has never had the opportunity to meet Katie Carl, I'm just gonna tell you straight up that you have most definitely missed out! Sitting across the table with her over a rapidly melting dilly bar, we caught up on life. It was so encouraging to hear & see her heart. She's getting ready, in January, to head off to KBM out in Colorado (where Biz is at). Leaving everything familiar here at home...friends, family, & all the other little comforts, she's stepping out & just going for it! I love that! I love the passion she has for ministry, the passion she has for reaching out to others, & the incredible passion she has for serving God! It's refreshing & challenging!

We talked for what really only seemed like minutes, but before we knew it, this young guy came waltzing up to us to ask us if we could leave since they were closed! You think we would have gotten the hint when they were sweeping around us, dimming the lights, & shutting everything down! Oops!

In the midst of our conversation last night, Katie said something to me that didn't fully sink in until I got back to my apartment. It was a piece of advice her dad had given her when she was wrestling through what the next step in her life was after graduating from Moody. "You can't be afraid to fail. You can't be afraid of making a mistake."

I know, I know, you're probably all thinking "DUH!" And I agree. I must have heard that a thousand times from a hundred different people, but I don't think I really ever allowed it to sink in until tonight. I don't think I was really ready to hear it until tonight.

Too often I let the fear of failure keep me from doing something I know I should do. Too often I think, "What if I make the wrong choice? What if I mess up?" Okay, so what if I do make the wrong choice? What if I try something & it fails? Well...I guess I learn from my mistake & MOVE FORWARD. Instead of being so afraid of making it that I just keep standing still.

The lesson sounds simple enough, but for me last night, it was huge. I'm reminded of the following verses:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." -Prvb 3:5-6

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