I recently went away for a women’s weekend - mostly because they offered pickle ball. The Pickle Ball sessions and the other sports were definitely the best part of the weekend. Don’t even ask me about the rustic accommodations or the fact that there was no running water for the first 20 hours of the weekend or that they served chili to 200 women the first night……DON’T EVEN ASK! One of the options I did sign up for was - HIGH ROPES! I have never - ever - done high ropes in my life - it would be something I would do for the first time. I learned how to put the harness on - I got clipped in - and the climb began. I climbed up the 12 foot ladder (easy) - then rock climbed up another twelve feet or so (harder) - then had to reach across the platform and haul my body up on top (definitely a challenge). And then I stood up. Another gal - Nancy - made the climb ahead of me and was waiting for me to reach the top. Our instructors - then - encouraged us to hold hands and lean back - trusting those who were holding the ropes to support and sustain us. AMAZING.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

The idea that fear holds us back, hinders us, prevents us from going after our goals and the things that we want to accomplish is something we all know well.

The question is, why are we still so hesitant to leave our comfort zones? We know the results tend to outweigh the fears, and we know that our fears are often unfounded. So, what’s holding us back?

There is a story in the Old Testament that I absolutely love. The main character is a girl named Esther. Esther was living quite quietly in the country with her uncle - growing up in the ways of her people - the Jews. Out of the blue she is selected to go to the big city because the King needs a new queen. Talk about leaving your comfort zone! For a whole year she was pampered and primped and primed before meeting the King. This is Esther’s story in a nutshell.

Ahasuerus, the all-powerful king of Persia, banishes his queen Vashti for failing to appear before him when bidden (imagine). The new chosen queen is Esther, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, the Jew. Mordecai’s bitter enemy at court is the wicked Haman, the king’s right-hand man. Because Mordecai fails to bow before him, Haman plots not only Mordecai’s death but also the extermination of all the Jews in the Persian empire - (bad move Haman). Mordecai calls on Queen Esther to save her people - (perhaps you have been placed in the palace for such a time as this!) Esther heroically risks the king’s wrath by appearing unbidden before him. She invites King Ahasuerus and Haman to two banquets where she persuades the king both to save her people and also to hang Haman on the very gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. The king’s edict to kill the Jews is reversed, and the Jews instead get revenge on their would-be persecutors. They celebrate their victory by initiating the festival of Purim.

I love Esther’s bravery and boldness. I love her strength and courage. I love that she got uncomfortable. I love that she lived bold and brave.

Three hundred and sixty-five times in the Bible it says - “don’t fear”. There are 365 days in the year - one verse for each day we live. This is one of my favourites - 2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”Another way to say the same thing - “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

I’ve had to do some hard things for the first time! Some uncomfortable things.

We moved communities four times when we pastored four churches over the period of 35 years. That meant that I left friends and family, neighbourhoods and our children’s schools and teachers and stepped out of timidity to bravery - meeting new friends, new teachers, new schools. It made me stronger.

When we took a sabbatical in 2009 and were living in the tiny village of Westport, I desperately missed my running group. I longed for a friend to train with. I noticed a woman running by our wee cottage every other day and decided to be intentional about meeting her. The next time I saw her - I flew out the door - called “hello” and introduced myself. Cathy and I became fast friends - ran together for the rest of that summer and fall - and even though we live far away from each other now - we have those wonderful memories of the summer of 2009. Cathy became a life long friend and I’m thankful for her.

I became a widow when I was 57 years old. This was something I did not choose. It was not the script I had chosen for my life - but through my grief and pain - I trusted God to strengthen my heart and to trust that His plan for my life would continue and I would flourish and my joy would be restored.

I went on a coffee date after saying I would never marry again. (So I was wrong - about marrying again - not the coffee date)!

I flew to Spain this past summer and walk 120 kms in 5 days!

I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and there are some days that when I look on the board at the workout - I wonder if I can do it - it’s hard - it’s difficult - but I always say - “I can do anything for 20 minutes!”

Isaiah 51:5…..”On My arm they wait” (trust)! I wrote these words several years ago and they still apply today regardless if my something is little or big - whether my first time is bungee jumping or inviting a stranger for supper.

I simply and entirely trust myself to the providence and care of God. O blessed hurricane that drives my soul to God and God alone. I must not dishonour the Lord by unworthy doubts and fears but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. I must show the world I live in that my God is worth ten thousand worlds. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits because I live in a world that is scary and weak and flustered.

First time activities don’t need to be dramatic or traumatic events - trying a new activity - baking cookies and delivering them to a young family - inviting a new friend for lunch - smiling at a stranger - the list is really endless.

I’m not sure what the next first time thing is going to be but I have a few ideas up my sleeve. First though, I am committed to getting Harv up and running again - (well at least walking as he’s never run anywhere in his life before)! I’m wearing my nurses hat - my chef’s hat - my chauffeur’s cap - my maid’s apron - it’s been a whirlwind week! (Harv’s healing well and quickly).