My sons have taken me snorkeling on the Big Island of Hawaii—twice. The first time, we went to a shallow bay where many tourists go.
Before entering the water my oldest son, Josh, explained how to breathe. Then, he warned me not to put my feet down or the razor-sharp coral would cut me. Because I trusted his advice, I relaxed and floated along—arms and legs outstretched—completely fascinated by a breathtaking array of fish. Staying calm not only kept me safe, but also opened up a whole new realm beyond my imagination.
The second time I visited my sons, they wanted to show me “a better spot.” The idea was to swim further out in the ocean. However, they had far more confidence in my ability to contend with the waves, than I did. In over my head, I battled the swells, thrashing about, floundering and gulping water until Josh finally noticed and came to my rescue. My fear could have drowned both of us if he hadn’t convinced me to relax. I’d like to say that led to my discovering an underwater treasure trove, even more amazing than the one I'd seen before, but to be honest, I was too scared and determined to go back to the beach. If only my sons could have duplicated their upper body strength in me, I might not have missed out on the fantastic adventure they had planned.
So how did I learn to keep from being too scared when life’s waves threatened to drown me? I got to know someone who could not only instruct me in how to experience a whole new realm, but also has the ability to replace my weaknesses with his strength. That relationship began opening up a reality far more important than my fears.
Tomorrow’s topic explores this super power.
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