WHAT HAPPENED?

Everyone is eager to know. Questions like, "how did it go?" or "was it successful?" or even "well?" I have no idea how to respond to any of these questions lightly. I try my best to eke out a politically-correct response and half way through I find my brain moving into a place where I just want to share all of my thoughts (good and bad) but hesitate.

So, what happens in the hesitation?

I ask myself, "what are they really asking me?" Let's face it, people don't really want to know details. It's kind of like asking the question of "how are you?" No one wants to REALLY know how you're doing. The unfortunate part of this process is that I won't lie and I am learning how to filter my responses so that I don't compromise myself yet help the other person feel good about the fact that they stepped out of their comfort zone. They reached a new place in their curiosity and ... that's a good thing.

So, here's what happened:
I met amazing new people. I reconnected with old friends. I was challenged. I grew some. I thought I expected nothing and found out that I did expect something. I felt more comfortable in situations where I didn't feel comfortable the last time. I grew. God met me and I embraced Him wholeheartedly, with open arms. My wallet was lost. God provided. I grew to trust Him more. I recognized friendship in the eye of harm. Wisdom knocked at my door. I can only hope I grew. Sharon and I learned more about each other. We laughed. We grew together. I learned to love my Jesus in brand new ways.

What makes you uncomfortable?

Perhaps it’s being in a foreign country where no one speaks your language. Or maybe it makes you uncomfortable to be in weather that is either very hot or very cold. Maybe there are times when you are wanting to speak truth to someone but are afraid. What makes you uncomfortable?

How do we break the bond of being uncomfortable and forge ahead into a territory of knowing that everything will be ok once you make the first step? If I had not stepped outside my comfort zone five years ago and decided to stay home, then I would not have experienced new friendships, new foods and a new way to think about life.

Stepping outside the box has helped me to expand my way of thinking when I go back to my comfortable box and each time I step outside my comfort zone, my comfort zone expands. Trying new foods is always something I am open to. I always say that I will try something at least once. Whether I eat it again is a different story. Let’s take pigs ears. I was encouraged (more like coerced) to try this delicacy. I saw a small piece and dipped it into some horseradish, opened my mouth and allowed my molars to break up the rubbery, mushy, somewhat textured sliver of ear. Then the taste of the pig met my tongue with an explosion of distaste. I did not spit the morsels out onto the table, but my mouth was experiencing a new kind of high. What to do? What to do? Swallow. Ah, yes. The taste would be gone. No. It lingered until someone said, “drink something!” My brain said, “Yes! Anything to make this go away.” My friends giggled the whole time. Ok, it was really more like laughing out loud – there were no giggles. They were having way too much fun at my expense. But I didn’t die and I didn’t get sick and I had a good time with my friends.

What would help you to step outside your comfort zone?