JUMP ON IN!

Many years ago, I was on the cusp of graduating with my Bachelor's Degree in Religious Education. In order to gain experience in vocational pastoral ministry, I worked at a church as an intern. It didn't pay well but it provided me with a significant opportunity to learn how to provide pastoral care to high school students.

Today, I have two teenagers under our roof. One has graduated high school while the other is smack dab in the middle of it (poor guy). I can appreciate the anxiety and worry that parents and guardians have about their adolescent children doing crazy things.  As a parent now, I can really appreciate their anxiety.

One spring day during the May long weekend, I found myself at Sherkston Shores.  I'm not talking about the new age discovery of finding oneself, I was literally there with a couple dozen teenagers and adult volunteers. It was a cooler weekend but the sun was shining.

Now, I don't remember what led to this decision but most of the students thought it would be fun to jump in a water-filled quarry (think smaller than a lake but larger than a pond). It was a bit of a drop but all of the male students and leaders jumped in. Being a strong reason for why peer pressure exists, I jumped in too. When I hit the water, it felt like thousands of pins were stabbing my torso. It was COLD!

I tried to swim but I was so slow. Everyone was so much quicker in the water. I did the front stroke, back stroke and even felt like I was having a stroke. I couldn't wait to reach shallow water but now, I was in the middle of the quarry while everyone else was now in the shallows. I could hear people calling my name and yelling encouragement to keep swimming.

At this point, I started to panic. All I could muster was a lacklustre backstroke. 

I thought, 'You are going to die Greg. This is how you'll bite the big one, old chap.'

Slowly, I finally reached the safety of shallow water. Thank God. I really didn't want to die from drowning (for the record, in my sleep will do just fine). I could barely walk and had risked hypothermia but I came out on the other side intact.

Life's like that isn't it? Not the hypothermia part but the uncertainty. With adventure comes so many possible outcomes. You jump into a new job, new home, new partner, etc. and you don't know what will happen. You worry because these things carry risks like being fired, costly house repairs or heartbreak. To do something new is to invite risks.

You will fail (that should be a Hallmark card). It's really that simple. There will be times when failure is not only an option but a necessity for growth in the future.

Now, your fear isn't baseless because failing and losing are valid things to make you nervous.

But.

Never attempting and wishing is even worse. No one wants to fail but to never attempt is simply unfair to yourself. There are many regrets I have had in life but trying something new or chasing a dream is not one of them.

This doesn't mean that you don't plan or prepare when taking a risk. You need to prepare but never regret doing something too many people are afraid to try.

So, what are you waiting for?

Jump!