Leaving The Diving Board

When I was a little kid I had a huge fear of jumping off the diving board. I don't know what triggered this fear, but I was terrified of diving boards. I think it was from a scene in the movie Aladdin when Aladdin gets thrown into water and almost drowns. For anyone who didn't watch Aladdin growing up—you missed out.

I remember being the kid looming over the end of the diving board at pools. I'll never forget one time I was at a private pool with my mom and my grandma. I was talking to my grandma and I completely lost track of my mom. While talking to my grandma I was standing at the end of the diving board and out of no where I felt a light push on my back. Next thing I know, I'm under water. For a second I thought I was going home to be with Jesus. I finally rose from the water after what seemed like a lifetime. I came out of the water—spitting it out of my mouth, blowing it out of my nose, and bawling my eyes out. I told my mom I would never talk to her again. Haven't we all done that once or twice?

Shortly after I was done throwing a fit—I didn't stop jumping off the diving board until later that evening.

Fear loves to hold us back from a lot of things that are fun. Fear screams all the negatives that can happen and whispers the positives. A lot of times we listen to the screams. Don't listen to the loudest voice—listen to the truest. I think sometimes we can believe the lie of fear—at least I know I can.

Fear loves to paint messy pictures that aren't true. Fear will tell you the pool is seventy feet deep when it is only seven.

I think we need to jump into the pool more. The pool of life, relationships, community, and dreams. We need to experience authentic relationships and community. How many times have you not jumped into the pool or took a risk? I once heard that, "The risks we don't take will be our biggest regrets." I can't tell you how many ideas I've had, but was afraid of criticism. How much love I've wanted to share, but was afraid of rejection. Even Facebook statuses I've wanted to post, but I was too afraid it would not get enough likes. I think in a way we destroy fear by authenticity and being comfortable in our own skin. We become comfortable in our own skin by developing an intimate relationship with Jesus.

I once read in the Bible that perfect loves casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). I don't know about you, but I want that.

I wonder how many times fear has kept people standing on the edge of the diving bored. In order to live life to the fullest we need to leave the diving board. What's the pool you're not jumping into?

Sometimes you can't jump in the pool right away—first you need to dip your feet in. Whatever you do just do something; baby steps are still steps. No matter what you do, tie your suit tight. When you're facing fear you're going to get wet.