Into the Unknown
Today I was walking my children to school – YAY ME!! I’m actually on track to walk them to school instead of driving them. I decided I needed to get some exercise and this was my “thunk” on how to get it. Anyway, we started walking and there was this amazing fog layer hanging over the park near where we live. It was so cool!! My children said “let’s go through the park!!” I promptly responded, “let’s NOT go through the park”. All I could think about was how hard it would be to trudge through the snow that was at least 6 – 8 inches deep, me wearing snow boots and severely out of shape. (Remember I decided to start walking just yesterday!!) Well, we went through the park.
How many times do we come to a crossroad in our life and think “let’s NOT do that, it looks too hard (complicated, scary, daunting, frustrating, add your own adjective/excuse here…)”? I know I have. The thing is, every time I reach this crossroad in my life someone is always there encouraging me to go, as Elsa from “Frozen” would say, “into the unknown”. Is it scary? You bet! Does it look extremely difficult? Absolutely! Do I think that I will make it out alive? Not a chance! But do I go? Ahh! That’s the true question! Do I go into the unknown? YES!!! A million times YES!! But why?
I go into the unknown because I know it’ll be extremely worth it. I also know that “someone” is ALWAYS there to encourage my efforts – even when I am declaring that I am “dying” and can’t make it. That someone is there to say “you got this! You’re almost there”. So, I keep going, - trudging, huffing and puffing, legs burning – but I keep going. And after awhile I come out on the other side alive. I may move a bit slower and have to take a short rest before I keep going, but I am alive AND I have accomplished something amazing!
Today it was my children who encouraged me to keep going. They were ahead of me at first, then they were right by my side when it got really hard for me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The only way they could have learned to do this is from the example I have given them. I’ve encouraged them from the time they were born that they can do hard things and that I will be by their side while they accomplish their “hard thing”. I’m so glad they have learned this particular lesson, because now they are the ones to help and encourage others in their “hard things”.
Life is so hard!! Especially now with everything that has been going on in the world. I challenge you to have courage to take your steps “into the unknown”. Look for those who are encouraging you (I will definitely be someone who will encourage you to keep going – you’re almost there!). The biggest “someone” that is encouraging you to keep going is Jesus Christ. He had to go through the biggest trial of all and He made it out on the other side alive then turned back to help us through our trials. Always remember that!!
As we go into the unknown of a new year, may we all take the first scary step then KEEP GOING!! You will make it! I promise! Then turn around and help the next person through their “unknown”!
