Reluctant Russell

I'm getting to know a few people at the park now. They're regulars, I've figured out, taking their walks at the same time that I do in the morning. One of my favorite passersby is a little Jack Russell Terrier. I don't know his name yet, so I'll call him Russell....reluctant Russell. Russell has a very perky disposition. From afar, he looks like an adventure on 4 legs, taking each step with an enthusiastic bounce. But, as Russell approaches me, that all changes. He becomes very skittish and unsure of himself. He's curious to find out what I'm all about..so he steps toward me. The second I move toward him, he gets really nervous. He almost looks as though he's twitching. And if Russell could talk, then I'm sure that he'd be stuttering. Russell is a classic case of canine reluctance. I wonder where Russell's reluctance came from. Insecurity? Maybe carrying around a bad experience? Who knows? Maybe Russell just isn't as brave and adventurous as he looks. Or, maybe he's more bold and brave than he ever imagined, but just never takes the chance - kind of like people.

Our great fear is not that we lack the potential or ability to try new things (like Russell feels). That's what we think holds us back. If truth be told, I think that we fear the deep seated awareness that our potential is so great that we end up scaring ourselves. We get overwhelmed and overcome by the immensity of who we could be, if we allowed the steps to be taken. That sounds kind of conceited, but in reality, we all were born with God-given greatness. We simply need to exercise the faith and courage to step into it. We tend to immediately squelch ambition and desires with doubt, insecurities, excuses, worry, anxiety, disbelief, aversion, avoidance and sheer...reluctance. So, what's required to combat the reluctance? RISK! I'm not talking about life-threatening risks. The kind of risk that I'm talking about is risk of trusting, risk of being transparent and vulnerable, risk of attempting something out of our comfort zones. Risk is "birthed" out of reluctance. I say "birthed" since it involves starting small and slowly developing through prayerful self-examination, trial and error, and most importantly, steps of faith.

Have you ever had a time when you felt nudged to say or do or be something, but then quickly shut the door on the possibilities saying things like, " I could never..." or, "no one would ever..." or, "I don't know how to...." or "I don't have what it takes" Says who? Ok, back to Russell. I saw him a second time on my walk today and this time he paused, got ever so slightly closer, walked away from me, but then turned around to take another look. Russell was thinking about being a little braver. He was stepping out of his comfort zone with those little paws of his. The next time that I get one of those nudges to try something new, or to dream something big (or small), or just to believe that "I can" lead a God-driven adventure for my life, I'm going to think of "Reluctant Russell", who I have faith will one day stop to enjoy our new friendship.