By: Judy Dyck
I observed her and pondered.
She’s only three. The playground is scary for her… She climbs up a few steps, then backs down again, too afraid to go higher. She sees the other children playing, running, laughing…. Climbing- unafraid.
At the top there are slides to go down, fun things to play on… And she wants to try them out… But she stays down on the ground level, because it’s scary to go higher.
I feel for her. How like life. How like so many of us.
I watch her again. Her sister is coaxing her to come up higher… Convincing her it’s okay, it’ll be fine… Telling her of the good things to be enjoyed up higher. With her sister’s help, she climbs up. At the top, she smiles hugely, discovering all the things she had been missing out on. My thoughts continue….
Life can be that way for adults too. Fear can keep us from rising higher… From venturing out of our comfort zone… to discover new things that can bring great meaning and joy and fulfillment to our life. It’s unfamiliar; scary, uncomfortable… So we remain where we are- in the familiar, on the ground level. But we miss out on all God may have for us to explore and enjoy up higher.
So take the next step. Hold your friend’s hand, if you need to. Open your mind. Rise higher.