On Being Brave
and being blessed
I look back over my life, and the moments I chose to be brave stand out. Not so much because I had to face some fear to be brave, but because of the good that happened as a result. There have been more of those moments in recent years. I didn’t want to be frozen in fear and remain stuck there. It didn’t mean the fear went away, but the decision to feel the fear and make a choice in that fear has helped shape me into the woman I am today. I’m grateful.
Some of the things in my life that have given me the most peace are the result of choosing courage in the face of fear. I had to choose not to be afraid of certain people and situations. I don’t do this perfectly, of course, because I’m human. But I do choose to seek peace and the things God has for me, which means I have to look some fear in the face, feel it, but not allow it to deter me from what God has ahead of me.
I would have missed out on so many blessings if I allowed fear to keep me from trying.
I know the trust trying can require. The older you get, it’s natural to remain best friends with routine and unwilling to push the boundaries of your comfort. I love routine and familiarity; they feel calm and peaceful to me. I appreciate order, a plan, and a lack of change. It’s pretty difficult to live in this world as a friendly introvert who appreciates those things. But it’s right that I choose to trust God’s plan for my life and do things even though I feel afraid. I choose to be brave. Over and over again. If I never step out of my comfort zone and try new things, I fail to gain a new perspective and miss blessings. The same is true for you, my friend.
One of the biggest examples of this in my life is music. I began a new career in my fifties! I wasn’t exposed to much music growing up; it was reserved for special occasions and wasn’t part of daily life. But my husband has been a musician his entire life, and a performer since age four. In my fifties, we had moved to a new state, my children were grown, and I had retired from my massage therapy career after fifteen years. I saw my husband networking to meet new people, make music as a solo performer, and earn an income. But solo gigs are not his favorite by a long shot.
One day I had accompanied him to a show and watched as he and the singer with him were paid afterward. I realized that we would have doubled our income for the day if that singer were me. I had sung at church a few times, but this was a new and different challenge. So, facing fear and unknowns, I asked my husband if I could try. Can I join him as a duo and see what happens?
