Courage Dear Heart

Courage. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines courage as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

Do you find that there are things in your life, or times in your life where it's hard to find the courage to do the big things, scary things, and hard things? When it's hard to step out in faith and take steps toward the unknown?

I'll be the first to raise my hand. Having courage is hard. It's that feeling you muster up when your toes are hanging over the edge of the diving board about to jump. It's that feeling of setting aside fear and giving in to the unknown. But the freedom that comes once you jump, while you're flying midair into the water, and the rush you feel as you come crashing down through the surface of the water; well that freedom is what helps you find your courage the next time you're standing with your toes over the edge of the diving board waiting to jump into the beautiful blue of the unknown below.

That's what life is for me right now. I'm standing in complete darkness with a lantern that only lights my feet. And I have to muster up the courage to take the next step. To put one foot in front of the other and walk into the unknown.

But with every step I take, I find reassurance, peace, and freedom. And once you've tasted a little piece of freedom, courage is a little bit easier to find. It's not as hard to muster up. Just like when you were a kid on the diving board. It took all the courage you could find to jump, but once you landed in the welcoming arms of the water the first time; finding courage the second time wasn't quite so difficult.

So whatever it is that has you standing at the edge of the diving board, with your toes over the edge, trying to find courage. Have faith. And jump wildly into the welcoming arms below.

The past week or so I've had a little whisper in my heart reminding me of the words C.S. Lewis wrote and Aslan spoke, "Courage dear heart." Those words have been quietly reminding me to put one foot in front of the other and take steps into the unknown. And while putting one foot in front of the other is scary.

While vocalizing dreams is scary. While taking steps to achieve those dreams are scary. While walking into the future is unknown and scary. I know freedom is waiting on the other side. And the sweet taste of freedom is worth every small, scary, courageous step into the great unknown.

I don't know your story. I don't know what your unknowns, your dreams, and your fears are. But I do know that the water (and our big gracious God) is waiting to embrace you when you step off the diving board and come crashing into the greatness of freedom.

xoxo -Cal