Community

I imagined myself there on the rink, gliding over the ice with grace and poise; alternating between fast and slow. Maybe a spin there, a sway here. Hmm...

The reality was my feet were in pain, I couldn't keep balanced and I was slowly making my way around the rink for the 2nd time while I clung to the wall for dear life. "This is stupid! I should never have come, what was I thinking?" I thought. I turned to watch my friend Katie and her boyfriend Lucas almost swing-dancing across the ice and thought about going home. But instead I took a break, took off the skates to give my novice feet a break while I sat in the warmer house. A little while later I got back up, put on my skates again and decided to give it one or two more rounds. I got back out on the ice and began my slow commute around the borders of the ice rink when suddenly Lucas came up behind me and said "Here, let me take your hand and help you." "OK!" Step, step, glide - wait a minute why am I being tugged away from the wall. "No, no, no!" my mind screamed. But I hadn't fallen over yet. And then Katie came and took my other hand and together we went very smoothly and gracefully around the rink 3 times before my feet gave out. And then after break number two I went all on my own around the rink one time and then my feet couldn't handle it any more. But I had done it, I had skated on ice!

Sometimes in life we have fears that are too big, too powerful, too challenging to deal with on our own. We cling and cling, and try on our own but we exhaust ourselves and can't seem to function well. I feel a little like the last few months of my life I've been clinging to the wall, afraid to fall, afraid to experience the full weight of my fears while I try to skate through life. But the wall wont get me anywhere. Trustworthy people needed to come along side for a time to help you wrestle through the fears in order that you may enjoy life. My experience with this has been challenging though because once those people come into your life and you do finally experience enjoyment and satisfaction as you overcome your fears they can only take you so far. Pretty soon you need to step out on your own knowing that you just thrived in this just a minute ago with some support and help. Keep that mindset...step, step, glide. It may be slow-going and you may fall a few times but in the end you'll be doing it unencumbered and standing on your own two feet.