Near the end of my frosh year in college, I wrecked my dad’s car. A cherry 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, with a 352 cubic inch, high compression V8. A friend had just been married, and we all decided to follow the new couple to their honeymoon location. The others, especially in my car, wanted us to be right behind, so I peeled out of the church’s parking lot, and even edged out a friend’s Corvette. But that 500 was a heavy beast, and when someone pulled in front of us at a red light, I couldn’t stop in time. I still picture, in slow motion, the dent in the hood approaching me.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, just my ego. But dad was pretty stern on some things, and cars were one. I came close to tossing the keys to my sister, “Call dad, I’ll see you in a few weeks.” A week later, dad came by to pick me up from college, in a brand new 1967 V8 Mustang. I headed for the passenger seat, then heard, “No, here’s the keys. You drive. You have to get back on the horse after you’ve been bucked off.
OK, I was leery and triply cautious, but I rode that Mustang and learned two lessons. The first was the realization we all need grace, such as dad gave me. I wouldn’t have been so gracious in his place. But he put relationship above sheet metal, and I saw his soft side a bit more clearly. Second, he knew we have to face down our fears, or they’ll incapacitate us. So, in grace, he tossed the keys to me to help that. Honestly, those images remain vivid to this day, but friends will tell you, I still enjoy driving fast. 😉
A third lesson: realize that fear can be your friend if it keeps you from doing really stupid things. OK, call it “healthy respect,” but it helps. I gave up my beloved Honda ST1300 motorcycle because when my balance and coordination degraded, it scared me to corner as fast as I used to. That fear was a hint to get a bike that wasn’t a tempting sport model.
So how do you face the fears? Acknowledge them. Evaluate them if they’re valid or not. Trust in God to work in all things for good. But don’t let them drive your life—God may have something better in store for you.
Kick Starting the Application
What fears do you struggle with the most? Can you identify how you got them? Looking back over many of the fears you’ve had, what percentage turned out to be real? How can you involve God in facing down your fears?
PS that ride impacted my life in another way, I love the ponies, and have owned two Mustang convertibles.