For much of my life I have been active and involved with athletes, sports, and strength training. Because of that people assume I would have no problem in certain environments such as water. Well . . . I don’t necessarily have a physical problem, as long as my feet are on the ground, but I do have a challenge between my ears. I have a bit of a fear of water. Basically I don’t like going under it and really do not enjoy the feeling of disorientation when I suddenly enter the water.
Fortunately for me my children do not have this problem. They each know how to swim, swim fairly well and love being in the water. Of course when we go to a water park they want to go everywhere and do everything. With three boys I get the honor of being with the older two while my wife enjoys rides or just watching our son on less intense experiences.
We start our adventure at the water park on this day by going to three enclosed tube water slides. Not only do I not particularly enjoy water rides, but enclosed water slides do not appeal at all. We walk up to the top of the stairs and it is our turn to enter the slides. Three slides exist. Each side slide twists and turns and goes a little slower. On the other hand, the one in the middle is a dark green tunnel of almost complete darkness where you drop off a ledge and fly from top to bottom in about three seconds. As I stand at the top with my sons they each want to go on the sides. That leaves me with the middle. I could stay safe and tell them I’ll walk down and meet them at the bottom. I could let them go and then go down one of the side slides. The problem with both of those options is I want to go with them and not just watch or feel like a wimp and not go at all. What will that example show them?
Ultimately I sit down in the water at the top of this plunge of death, cross my legs, put my hands behind my head and plummet to the pool of water at the bottom. After brief disorientation and trying not to look like a fool of a man as I finish I get up having survived and somewhat enjoying the experience, except for the scraped back. Right before my plunge I had a quick pep talk with myself saying “go for it” and “you got this.”
The tube slide may not resonate with you, but standing on the edge of a cliff about to jump backwards rappelling down a mountain would produce a similar, or greater, feeling. Sitting at the edge of this waterslide tube or on the edge of a cliff is the same feeling we all experience when we are about to take a risk into the unknown. We have a choice to make, be safe or be brave. We may choose safety and feel comfortable and life will be “easy,” but every day we may be pushing down that voice that wonders “what if” and what could have been. The other option is to step into the unknown and see where the adventure leads us.
What is that unknown? A new job. An entrepreneurial business venture. Getting married. Going back to school when we don’t know how we will afford it. Having a difficult conversation. Leaving a situation for the greater good. Volunteering to do something we have never done. The unknown could be many possibilities. The result of entering the unknown: adventure, growth, potential future opportunities, and possibly living out your true purpose.
I think the great thinker C.S. Lewis spoke to this topic quite well when he said: “We are . . . like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Plunge into the unknown adventure and enjoy the ride!
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