I Was Scared

I’m only slightly ashamed that I was scared this morning. I was having breakfast with friends at Mel’s Diner when the thunderstorm many of us will never forget hit town. No one with me (and some were even older than I) had ever seen the sky that dark during the day. We watched hail through the security camera go on for some time. We couldn’t stop commenting on the ferocity of the wind. Being all men, we sort of laughed it off, but kept checking the weather radar on our smart phones and talked about nothing else. Finally someone suggested we adjourn to the men’s room. It took a few seconds before I realized he was serious. I don’t know if you have ever been to the men’s room at Mel’s downtown, but safety isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. For a few minutes this morning I was scared. I wasn’t the only one, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was.

It kind of feels good to admit that. Maybe we would all be better off if we could admit that sometimes we are scared. Maybe it’s the weather. Maybe it’s an impending medical procedure. Maybe it’s the thought of being jobless or just being old.

There’s nothing wrong with being scared and admit it. Courage is not never being scared. Courage is doing what needs to be done even when you are really scared. Jesus once sweat drops of blood. Don’t tell me He wasn’t scared. He did what needed to  be done anyway.

Don’t ever be scared to be scared. It means you are alive. Just don’t let it change your direction or make you not do what needs to be done. .