Hard Hats for Jesus

As writer Annie Dillard writes in Teaching a Stone to Talk, following Jesus is not for the faint-hearted: "It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets." In other words, we must remember that Jesus Christ came to shake us from our uninspired routines, not comfort us with promises of wealth and ease.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do something every day that scares you."

According to essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, "He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life."

And consider the words of Laurie Beth Jones in her book Jesus, Life Coach: "Jesus came not to reinforce your comfort zone, but to set your old small-minded ways on fire. He doesn't ask you to just take a step here or there -- he asks you to leap tall buildings in a single bound. His requests will cause you to leave behind maybe everything that you thought you knew."

How many of us sidestep his call, echoing Jonah in our pleas to remain where we are rather than diving into unchartered waters? How many unthinkable possibilities could we unleash if we simply donned a hard hat and stepped into the mire?

Don't let fear make your decisions for you, Friends. Seek Jesus instead. As Jones reminds us, "Jesus doesn't teach about weakest links. He teaches about finding our highest callings and strengths, and going after them with all our hearts." 

How will you step out of your comfort zone today?