Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to do something that I have talked with others about incessantly, prayed about ceaselessly and affirmed that it was going to happen daily. However, just when I have an opportunity to be a doer not a talker, have my prayers answered and realize my affirmations, I found myself feeling unbelievably scared.
Wondering if I hadn’t simply talked too much, prayed incorrectly and made false declarations, I was about ready to forego my chance to do something substantive with my life and risk losing out on something that could be a big break through. Fear had me ready to give up what might be my one shot to make a worthwhile contribution that is until I remembered the shadow.
Made From Legos
When my son was small, I can remember times that I had to walk him to his bedroom and turn on all the lights before he felt comfortable enough to get in bed. He wasn’t afraid of the Boogie Man or some other legendary creature who scares children. He was afraid of shadows.
During the day, he could spend all day playing in his room. If he wasn’t reading a book, playing with Power Rangers, creating his own Broadway production, he was building something made from Legos. His made from Legos creations weren’t simple constructions either. No way! His made from Legos constructions were monuments to the unbridled and passionate imagination of a precocious child.
The type of imagination that so many parents and adults restrain and extinguish much too soon and unnecessarily. His made from Lego constructions illustrated the type of imagination shared by many who invent, create and do those things that Change The World.
However at night when it was time for him to go to bed, those same Lego constructions became objects that caused fear for my precocious and imaginative child. As the sun set and the moon rose, the moon light, street light and the porch light formed a perfect beam that made the Lego constructions appear life-sized. Each night, it was as if the Legos had come to life.
Long Before The Lego Movie
Unlike The LEGO® Movie, the Lego constructions in my son’s room had not really come to life at all. Rather, the illumination from the natural and artificial light cast shadows on my son’s creations. Lego formations that during the day were completely innocent and no taller than his waist – at night appeared gigantic and insidious.
Fearful of the creations he had just constructed hours earlier, I was required to walk him to his room. He would hold my hand tightly as I tried to calm his nerves and assure him that there was no reason to be afraid.
Can I be honest with you? There was a time or two during this nightly routine where those shadows had me questioning my own logic. I might as well admit that walking down the hallway from my bedroom to his bedroom could be a bit forebodin. At night, the shadows from some of the things he constructed looked pretty sinister even to me. And it was at those times where – frankly – I’m unsure if he was holding my hand or if I was holding his.
In any event, once I turned on the light the shadowy figures disappeared. I went on to give him the scientific explanation about how shadows are created from light and obstructions but those words were of no immediate consequence to him. In time, he grew to appreciate and understand the science behind shadows but in those initial encounters, all my son needed was for the shadows to disappear.
Daddy turned on the light, the good Lego constructions reappeared and the gigantic and insidious shadowy figures disappeared.
Back To The Future
So now we are back to me and my moment of fear. Like my son and his Lego constructions, I have been working to make the best possible use of the gifts, talents and abilities bestowed to me. For a brief period, I was about to meander in the dark recesses of my mind and scare myself from taking advantage of an opportunity to do and not talk, perform not only pray and act on my affirmations. All I needed to do was remember that what I feared were only shadows, to simply locate the light switch and turn on the light.
I know the light is found in truth. I know light removes the terrifying shadows. So from here on out or at least for today, I’m going to apply the words of Jim Rohn and Desiderius Erasmus to keep me from fearing the shadows.
The difficulties you meet will resolve themselves as you advance. Proceed, and light will dawn, and shine with increasing clearness on your path. Jim Rohn
Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.” Desiderius Erasmus
In the unlikely event the words of Jim Rohn and Desiderius Erasmus don’t increase my courage and remove my fears, I’m going to call my son, ask him to hold my hand, take a walk with me and reassure me that everything is going to be alright. I can already imagine him saying to me “Daddy, don’t be afraid, you can do it…those are just shadows”!
What do you think? What are you not doing because of fear? How can you expect your child to move beyond their fears if you are unwilling to move beyond your own? Share your thoughts below!