Daring to Step Out into a New Opportunity

 

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God,

I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you,

Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isiah 41:10 (New American Standard Bible)

 


While sitting on the deck of the ship, I marveled at the awe-inspiring sight of the Greek Isle, Santorini.  While experiencing the breath-taking views, past troubling thoughts about this trip played out in my mind.

            During the lunch outing, one friend turned to another and explained that I was getting ready to go on a cruise to Greece and Rome.

            “Oh, that’s a trip of a lifetime,” she exclaimed.

To which I replied, “But I don’t want to go. I am so scared.”

Why wouldn’t anyone not want to avail themselves to such a wonderful opportunity?

In the weeks leading up to this venture, I repeatedly contemplated the basis of these seemingly senseless fears. Going seemed to be the right thing to do, I had the money, and an excellent person to take care of my dog. So why was I afraid? The answer didn’t come immediately, so I muddled through doing what it took to make the trip. It wasn’t until that morning in Santorini that I understood my concerns about making such a trip.

Thought: How many times are we offered promising new opportunities such as a trip, new job, new home, new relationship, but we back off. Why?  That morning I realized the major part of the basis for my fears about the trip was it meant leaving my comfort zone. We can never go forward and stay put at the same time.

I’ve spoken before about the obsessive/compulsive disorder that invaded my life at a young age. Because I couldn’t always discern what I had done and would assume the worst, panic was always on the brink of my consciousness.

The hospitalization I sought hoping for help did little to alleviate the fears, but no matter what, life didn’t stop. After returning to college and graduating I had two choices:

1.    I could have stayed in my childhood home, my comfort zone.  The result would probably have been more hospitalizations because the knowledge of how to deal with this disorder wasn’t known at the time, and medication was the answer.

2.    The other choice was to continue to moving forward, no matter the pain of fear, the option I chose. Today, with the value of hindsight, it is obvious to me that with each step forward, healing took place. The fears have now been relegated to the back of my consciousness, and their occasional appearances are more like an annoying gnat.

 Victory often resides outside of our comfort zone.

When we are offered a new opportunity, or life moves us into a situation we may not want, the only way to find victory is to work hard. Over the years I was aware of how my sister moved forward as a librarian. The path she chose was to constantly put in the hard work that it took to do the job effectively and today she can look back and know her efforts made her a success.

Before leaving for Greece, there was a lot of work making sure the house was left so that the dog sitter would be comfortable; bills had to be paid, and any loose ends tied up. All of this took time, and stood in the way of doing something more pleasant, but it was necessary in order to travel without nagging concerns.

There was much confusion about how to pack for the trip.  According to the forecasts the temperatures were to be from 68 to 71 degrees, but the forecast never said if the humidity would be high or the weather dry. Decisions, decisions. One of the reasons we love our comfort zone is because there is little of the unknown to pester us. I love the saying by Michael J. Gelb.  “Confusion is the welcome mat at the door of creativity.”

It was difficult for me to adequately explain my fears about the trip, that I didn’t completely understand, to friends. When we involve ourselves in a new challenge, there are times when questions and concerns may make us feel totally isolated. This is a tough experience and anger at the absence of another frequently abides. Possibly in that bleak state, there is room for only one person and one God. I am reminded of the words of the 23rd Psalm, verse 4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Though these moments of darkness are uncomfortable, sometimes it is the only place where after digging in our heels, praying and seeking the wisdom of our Father in Heaven who sees everything, that we can find our greatest victory.

That morning in Santorini and the rest of the trip, I realized that having stepped out of my comfort zone, even in the midst of fear, and often confusion, and having done the hard work, I could now relax and enjoy truly the trip of a lifetime.

 

 

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