If you want to make even a small amount of positive progress you
have to take risks, one small step at a time.
I read a book that changed my life called,
”
If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the
Boat
”
(by John Ortberg), based on the idea that even a miracle worker
like Christ couldn’t make Peter walk on water until Peter himself
was willing to stand up and take the first step by climbing out of
the boat.
If you want to make even a small amount of positive progress you have to take risks, one small step at a time.
I read a book that changed my life called, “If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” (by John Ortberg), based on the idea that even a miracle worker like Christ couldn’t make Peter walk on water until Peter himself was willing to stand up and take the first step by climbing out of the boat. If he had let fear keep him sitting in the boat, Peter would never have taken that one tiny first step out of his comfort zone that made doing something out of the ordinary possible.
Gilroy mom Arti O’Connor wanted to see her two children skydive for the first time, but was terrified by the idea.
“I had decided that I would step outside my ‘comfort zone’ and watch. That, in itself, was a big step for me,” she explained.
I asked if she would tell readers what it was like after they took the jump.
“Since you wanted to know, yes, I did watch my kids jump out of the plane. Well, actually, they were too high up (15,000 feet) to see at the moment they jumped out of the plane but I kept watching from the time the parachutes opened until they touched down –very gently – on the ground.”
“The afternoon started with a video. The instructor said that would be the scariest thing they would see. The emphasis in the video was on the following advice (paraphrasing here), ‘Oh, yeah, and, by the way, you do understand that, by jumping out of a plane, you could get killed or seriously hurt, right? So, remember, you’re going to sign a waiver that says that neither you nor your spouse, your children, your parents, neighbors, friends, family, grandchildren, dog, cat or other pets will ever, ever, ever sue us. If anything goes wrong, tough luck. ‘Cause remember, you’re going to be strapped to another person and i”s going to hurt him as much as you when you both go splat on the ground. You could really be hurt or even killed but probably you’ll be OK. Got that? You DO understand, right? Well, OK then. Let’s go jump out of a plane and have a great time!’
“I was very impressed with the professionalism and relaxed attitude of the instructors (the certificate calls them “jumpmasters”). They were the people who were individually strapped to my son and daughter. They worked with them the whole time, using a mock-up of a plane’s midsection from which they would be jumping. They showed them the position to take and how to jump out the door. After training, they boarded a bus to go to the plane and it was about 20 or 30 minutes until they jumped out of the plane, a few minutes until they landed, and it was all over.
“My son and daughter loved the experience. My daughter said she would do it every day (except for the $179.00 price tag) if she had the chance.
“So, all went well. All survived. Including me. If they go again, and let me, I’d like to go in the plane and watch from above. That will definitely be beyond my comfort zone but I think I’m ready now!”
After hearing Arti’s story, I have to admit I’m not ready for sky diving, but maybe I will try something simpler that takes me out of my comfort zone – one baby step at a time. Maybe I’ll expand my own comfort zone just a little by saying hi to that stranger who sits beside me on the train. Maybe I’ll try speaking in public. Maybe I’ll go to a dance class. Maybe I’ll …
For yourself, fill in the rest.
