I’ve been afraid of…
- being drafted to fight in a war. I was a kid but I lost some sleep over this one. I think it was after I watched Rambo for the first time at a friend’s house.
- dying at nighttime by a tornado. Again I was a kid but I lived in Kansas and my bedroom was on the second floor. Oh, and I was on the top bunk in a bunk bed. For some reason being in a bunk bed made me that much more scared. I used to ask Jesus into my heart every night before bed out of fear of dying from a tornado.
- rejection.
- confrontation.
- the word moist.
- mayonnaise.
- change.
- getting Aids. Magic Johnson was my favorite player growing up and when he got HIV most people thought it was a disease for homosexuals. Since he was a straight man it opened up fear into a lot of people…including me.
- jogging more than a mile.
- failure.
- missing out. I hate missing out on things that I think would be fun.
- changing in the locker room. I’m not going to lie this still scares me. I avoid seeing old naked guys bare it all at all costs. That means I don’t change at the gym.
- asking a girl out.
- babies. Babies can’t hold their head up and that scares me.
- having babies. I was scared I wouldn’t be good at being a dad.
- changing diapers. Up until a week ago I’d never changed a diaper.
There is a scene in one of my all time favorite movies that goes something like this…
“Hey, I’m not afraid any more! I said I’m not afraid any more! Do you hear me? I’m not afraid any more!”
[Old Man Marley approaches Kevin and stares at him – Kevin runs back inside, screaming like a maniac]
The scene is from Home Alone. Kevin McCallister has just conquered his fear of the scary water heater. He runs out to declare his new found confidence only to see his scary neighbor, Old Man Marley. He runs back into the house screaming, AHHHHHHH! I often feel like Kevin McCallister.
As you can see by my list I’ve been afraid of a lot of things. It seems like every time I boldly declare that I’m not afraid a new fear turns me into a scaredy-kitty.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – The Bible.
I love this verse! It says that perfect love drives out fear. I was reminded of this as I was changing my son Hayden’s diaper. Right before I strapped the new diaper on he farted. You know what it’s called when you fart and poo comes out? Yeah, he did that. Except when he did it poo shot out onto the changing table, my shirt, and the wall. The wall for crying out loud! Just a few weeks ago I was scared of this. Not anymore. I love Hayden, and I’m not afraid anymore.
The Bible says that God is love. It’s amazing how God loving us can give us confidence to overcome our worst fears. He is perfect love and He drives out fear. I may forget this tomorrow and run screaming back into my house, but for now I’m yelling “I’m not afraid anymore!”
What is something that you have been afraid of?
I'm afraid of lots of things. Not being successful, being a husband, being a dad, making decisions that affect my life, rejection, my friends not liking me anymore.
Poo on the wall…awesome…btw Wild and Tiz think farting is hilarious and LOOVE to call out legitimate farts out on people…and even if you didn't fart and say the wheel on the grocery cart drags on the floor kinda sounding like a fart in Wal-Mart they love to announce to your aisle as well as the two on either side that "Daddy, you faaaarted, hahahaha!"
On fear: when Jesus is our sole delight…even over the breathe in our lungs, or the lives of our spouses and children, or power, comfort, control, etc. there is nothing to fear, because if we lost it all we would still have Jesus. The gift of the Gospel is Jesus.
One benefit from fear is that it can lead us to recognize what we are holding ultimate standing in our hearts and affections (idols) and see what is stealing our affection for Jesus.
Thanks for hanging with my ADHD….great post
I'm afraid of new things and the future that I dream up for me in my mind. I hate being afraid but find myself afraid all of the time. Ugh.
Very nice. I so get this. Thanks. You will be an amazing DAD!
Thanks Jimmyandsusie. Is this Jimmy or Susie?
I hear ya Daniel.
Billy, I tracked with you. Thanks for the comment.
Ryan, well Monica and Rob like you and your wife. Have no fear about that.
mayo moist bread…like a double whammy eh?
heights…but then i jumped off a 300 ft cliff
rejection for sure
screwing my kids up cause i did not know what i was doing
prob my biggest is something happening to my boys
hide and seek.
one of the most amazing things i've discovered as a parent is that there will be a MILLION things that you never thought you could do until you have to for your kid.
LIKE: cleaning up puke, cleaning out curdled milk, smiling through shots (if your kid's watching, you can't flinch), not puking at the site of your kid's head split open (in chick-fil-a), stop cussing, NOT laugh when your kid gets scared by the easter bunny.
but really, i still won't play hide and seek. even with my kids.
I remember being afraid of storms, snakes, boys, and what might be lurking in outhouses, but my #1 fear was that my parents might follow through on a frequent threat–divorce.
You should still be afraid of the word 'moist.' It hurts me to even write it– I'm glad we have that in common. And mayonnaise. A healthy fear, I tell ya!
I'm afraid of skydiving, I'm also afraid of Josh skydiving.
Oh, and heights. Which explains they whole skydiving thing.
And having kids and being back in a place where I worry about money and making ends meet– I don't wanna visit that place again. But I want kids, so I guess I'm going to have to go the Bible way and trust God! (no, we're not pregnant, just contemplating the idea of it)
A poo on the wall type episode happened to us too. One of the most horrifying and hilarious moments of our new job as parents. You're doing just fine. 🙂
I am a afraid of nighttime now. Our kids are rock stars during the day, but there is one 3-4 hr stretch that sucks at night.
LOVE that part of the movie too…and the basement…eeew scary! You are strong rob you can do it! 🙂
Being old and broke. The old part isn't a fear at all… it's the being broke when you're old that scares the bajeebers out of me.
I hear ya Jan. We have been trying to save so that doesn't happen to us.
Thanks Susan.
I hear ya on that. This too shall pass.
Shannon, thanks.
Those are all legit fears. Good thing you guys are already rock stars with saving. It will be an easy transition when kids come.
Mim, that is a serious fear. I'm glad it never came true.
Lindsey, hide and seek? Really? Not judging you at all, but what about that scares you?
Brian, when did you jump off that cliff?
To be completely honest, I am scared of dying. Not just abruptly or unexpectedly, but dying period. When I go I pray it's in my sleep. The finality of no longer being in my physical body is crazy scary to me. I know I should have peace about this because as a Christian I know where I'll spend eternity, but the stupid human part of this mind always wonders if there is nothing after where gone.
Also, I am mortified of losing my job. No particular reason, just the idea of that stability being taken away is unnerving.
Dang… I need to lighten up.
Just joined tonight so I'm not sure if this was said, but my biggest fear is striking a balance between work and family. Like many of you, if you find something you enjoy and are passionate about you tend to put all your time and effort into it right? Well, often one normally suffers. It is very difficult to do more than one thing at that intensity before something suffers. My biggest fear is chosing the wrong one. Both are equally important. I just don't ever want lose sight of this.
Jon, thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment. That fear hasn't been said, but it's very legit. I have a hard time balancing family, work, blogging, and friends. Good thoughts.
Derek, it wouldn't hurt all of us to lighten up a little. Thanks for the comment. Let's do lunch soon.
Sounds good Rob, how about next Tuesday? Meet you at the office around 12?
Nicely said.
Good to know Hayden's mastering the Jackson Pollock poo technique.
Oh, and is it bad if afraid to think of what I'm afraid of?
(You'll notice that last week I had a sentimental sidestep. The snark has come back this week).
Happy nights!
Leanne
I am afraid of slicing my finger with a knife. I am also afraid of mice. I use to be afraid that I would die before my kids were able to take care of themselves. They take care of themselves now so I am not afraid anymore.
Pictures/videos of snakes. I am still afraid of real snakes, but images of snakes no longer frighten me. Much.
It would stink to slice the finger. I once saw my brother cut his finger while using scissors. It was awful.
Then I say welcome back.
I remember the Magic announcement so clearly. He was my idol, and at the time that seemed like a death sentence. I was crushed.
Twins will alleviate that diaper fear pretty quickly. Hope they're doing well.
been there, done that. don't be afraid to ask your friends to come in during that time. they will, because they love you. i would, because i love you and i've been there. there's nothing worse than that time. i can't imagine with 2 of them. ya'll can come sleep here one night and i'll stay at your house 🙂 (and yes, i'm totally serious)
judge away, i'm ok with it. 🙂
i have major anxiety issues–thankfully zoloft controls most of them. BUT, the thought of someone looking for me while i hide scares the absolute crap out of me. in fact, i would pee in my pants if made to play. i have to pee a bit right now, just thinking about it. i don't necessarily mind being scared or surprised, but there is something about putting yourself in that situation on purpose that just seems stupid. i won't do haunted houses for the same reason. at youth group lockins, i would sit at home base, in the lights, while the kids played sardines.
(which is just mean that i had the bunny scare my kids, but…that was just funny).
Chase, I hear ya. I was wearing Magic Johnson shoes and that day other kids dubbed them HIV shoes. It was awful!
Tuesday sounds great! 12:00 or a little earlier?
Cool! Earlier is no problem is 11:30 good?
3 things terrify me:
1. spiders – I don't care what anyone says, if I see one I just KNOW it is out to get me!
2. having children – I've been married 15 years, and I always thought I'd have kids by now, but I'm terrified because eventually they will be teenagers and the world we live in today is just so difficult, so mean, and I wonder if it's fair to bring them into it. I'm afraid of working so hard and having it stripped away by something I can't control like peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, the media, etc. I know I can only do the best I can at being a parent but what if it''s not enough…
3. death – not my own but of my loved ones. I fear life without them here, it is unimaginable to me, I fear not being able to physically and emotionally handle it.
For some reason, I have a fear of being trapped in my car in water. Do I wait to get out until the pressure equalizes or as soon as the car hits the water, if my kids are with me, which one do I get out first (this was more a concern when they were babies and toddlers), if I couldn't get them out, would I leave them because I'd be panicking? I have no idea why I have this fear.
I'm afraid of scary movies. When I watch one that is really scary and creepy (like The Ring, Pet Cemetery, The Grudge), I always regret it, but I still do it sometimes.