Whatever you do…. DON’T LOOK DOWN!

Spoken dramatically while grabbing your shirt collar and shaking you….

SARAH: (insert your name), You get to do this once, this life thing. You get one chance. Are you coming or not?

YOU: Yes! Fine I’m coming I’m coming!

SARAH: Great!  Now whatever you do don’t …. look… down!

If I were Spielberg and I had to write the climax of the epic movie called “This is Your life”  this would be my opening line, you would be the lead role and I would play a very good looking and slim version of Yoda.   “O’ Young life liver” I would say in a British accent ” if I have learnt anything in my little but very good looking life it is that no matter what journey you are on DON’T LOOK DOWN!”

Okay Back to The REAL WORLD (sigh)

In 1992 when I was 16 years old I stood on top of a 4 storey tower, strapped into a harness looking super cute in my helmet and full of ‘just cause I’m a girl’ angst.  It was in that confident moment that I made the mistake of looking down. Four storeys is high when your toes are peeking over the edge and you know it’s only going to take you 13 seconds to reach the bottom. Welcome to army cadets where trust tests are for babies and if the harness breaks, you die.

Welcome to army cadets where trust tests are for babies and if the harness breaks - you die. #army cadets #trust Click To Tweet

“If you want me to jump, you’re gonna have to push me!” I yelled over the wind to the commanding officers.

“Okay!” they yelled “On Three!”

One….two…

Yeah…they didn’t wait till three.

I flew off the tower feeling terrified and exhilarated at the same time. As soon as my rope reached it’s end, I slid down the Zip line to the finish line.

What a ride.

I had done it and I had earned my two angel kisses (rope burn on your cheeks) and a ‘take that boys!’ internal badge. Now looking back I realized that I learnt something about that experience 24 years ago that applies to my life now more than ever.

Even when you voluntarily climb to your destination and you know that amazing things lay ahead, you still shouldn’t look down and you still may need people to push you to your adventures. 

When we look down (when we look at how far we could possibly fall or how we could get hurt, humiliated, or humbled) we can be consumed with fear, self-doubt and resistance. Any JUMP requires COURAGE.

It never surprises me going through trials that I may feel afraid, angry, self doubt, hurt, betrayed and all those other messy feelings. What does surprise me are the negative emotions surrounding moving forward, taking a hold of opportunities and ‘seizing’ the day! How is it that we as humans can be just as afraid of success as we are of failure?!
Why are we so complicated?!

WHY CAN’T WE JUST CARPE THE HECK OUT OF OUR DIEM???!!!!!!!!!

baby-crying

 

Because both trial and triumph require TRUST that’s why!

YES, even pure joy requires trust, success requires trust and hope requires trust. Ask Queen Esther:

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” Esther 5 1-6 NIV

Imagine Queen Esther after months of preparation being called upon. Being told that NOW is the time – please step forward. What courage for her to step into the hall of the King. Perhaps she looked back and said “Yeah, you’re gonna have to push me” but even so, she did it.  Had she looked down from this favourable moment and saw how far she could potentially fall she may not have reached out her hand.

I believe more than anything that God wants to bless you and I also believe that there are some of you standing on the edge of your ‘jump’ and you made the mistake of looking down. I want you to know that I totally get it and lately I have been asking my friends and family to help me jump too. I know that God has his hand on you and that he has planted some dreams in your heart and you are standing on the cusp of them and God is asking you to jump and this is a run on sentence (and breathe)

My fearless friend, don’t look down okay, just do it, just jump.

Trust that God can take you through this season and give you the wings that you need to fly, the harness you need to keep you safe and the courage needed to trust him.

On the count of three….

one…

two…

 

Sarah sobs while embracing  (insert your name) tightly .

SARAH: You did it, my young life liver! You really did it!

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