I am not was never a fan of The Wizard of Oz. I know, I know, call me strange. It was never a movie that turned my crank.  But whenever I hear the word “Courage” I can’t help but think of the cowardly lion.  I suspect if I am honest (and you too) that there is something you have been are afraid of.   I know I am.  Heidi’s most recent post here talked about Fear.   I have always had a “fear” of being trapped in a burning car or in a tornado (I don’t live near the ocean so that sort of rules a hurricane out).  I have found a new fear creeping in lately though.  Since my bicycle accident I have found myself a lot less daring.  My eyes dart all over the place looking for stray animals.  If I hear a dog or see one come running towards me, I either step up the pace or I reach for my new friend, HALT.  Yesterday as I was coming down a hill that had a bend at the bottom, I normally get in my aero bars and let it rip!  Yesterday I started to and then fear drove me to lean over and put both hands on the “hoods” of my brakes. Can I say this and not be judged?  I hate that!! While I once rode with a prayer breathed before I start, I now ride with a heightened awareness of my surroundings ( I still breathe that prayer too).  That isn’t all bad, mind you, but it sure takes some getting used to.   I honestly hope that someday I lose that fear and find myself riding with abandon and joy again.

Yesterday I read the following quote in Run With the Bulls by Tim Irwin:

“Courageous acts are not performed by people with a personality trait called courage. Courageous acts are performed by normal people who passionately believe in what they are trying to do-the urge to act on their conviction becomes compelling.  Everyone who has ever performed a courageous act was afraid.  Their conviction about what they believed simply outmatched their fear.  A courageous person does not talk ‘about’ an idea, but rather acts on what he or she really believes.”

It is totally normal to struggle with moving forward.  We can’t see what is ahead and so the  future holds a certain…well…fear.  But we can look at that future and be paralyzed by that fear or we can say, “God, with you leading me I will do it.”  So, let me ask it a little different than Heidi.  Instead of “What are you afraid of?” let me ask it this way: “What would/should you be doing if you set aside your fear and trusted God for the outcome?” Now if I can just ride with abandon again…  🙂