Sometimes you just have to jump.

 

There is something I have been thinking about lately.   An opportunity that I don’t want to miss.  An epic “Carpe

Diem” if you will.  If I want to spiritualize it…maybe it’s a door that God has opened for me.   As I read this morning in James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”   There have been a few times in my life where anopportunity has presented itself to me that I have choice to jump and see where it has wings or don’t and wonder what could have happened.

Last week we took the kids to Heber Springs, AR.    Not really knowing what to expect until we got there…it turned out to be a fairly interesting area.   After browsing the town, checking out a ‘trickling’ waterfall, and trout hatchery we decided to head over to the lake and find a place to swim.    At the ‘beach’ there were rock formations over the water, which were all perfect for cliff jumping into the water.  From 3’ to 30’ kids and adults were jumping into the perfect temperature of water.    Mylissa’s first reaction, as well as mine,  was to say ‘no cliff diving for the kids!”  Its too dangerous…something might happen…you could get hurt…were the thoughts running through our head.    After watching many little kiddos jump in, I decided to jump in and let the kids decide if they wanted to try it.

As you can see… they had a blast.  There was this moment though… the moment of should I jump or should I not?  I told them they had to jump out away from the rock.  They couldn’t just hop in.   The risks and benefits were weighed.   He backed up…took a look and boldly and courageously took the 6’ plunge into the water.

There is an old song by Townes Van Zandt  called to “To live is to fly”…that I just love lyrics…

We all got holes to fill
Them holes are all that’s real
Some fall on you like a storm
Sometimes you dig your own
But choice is yours to make
And time is yours to take
Some dive into the sea
Some toil upon the stone
To live is to fly

So shake the dust off of your wings
And a sleep out of your eyes

What opportunities have you let pass by that you wish you seized the moment?  Do you wonder what if ____________?  What is holding you back?   If fear of the unknown is your main reason for not doing it …maybe its time to take 3 steps back…run…and jump.