The other day while doing fifteen minutes of nothing on my deck, a new practice I shared about a few weeks back, I watched a squirrel having a big time in the trees. She would run up a tree, leap daringly sideways to a limb from the next tree, run up and down that one and then
take a mighty leap sideways to the next one.
I nervously laughed out loud several times while enjoying her show. The squirrel's acrobatics looked dangerous to me, but she was in her element. She’s made to do that and she knows it.
What this squirrel was doing was no more dangerous to her than me driving a car. Yes, I could get hurt if I drive carelessly, but I usually won’t get hurt because I have experience and I pay attention.
What would happen if someone planted a seed in the squirrel’s mind that sailing from tree to tree was dangerous? What if she bought into that lie?
What if she then confined herself to one tree and spent the rest of her life only moving up or down the same tree? Her basic physical needs would still be met, but would she be as fulfilled as before?
What if this squirrel had babies and they were also taught to stay in the same tree, no leaping? They wouldn’t know what they were missing, so maybe they would be more content, assuming this is as good as it gets. But does that make it okay for them?
The baby squirrels will grow up and see other squirrels soaring tree to tree. When they can no longer deny that they are living much smaller lives, they will have to make a decision. They can either take a big risk to do something they’ve been taught to fear, or, they can guard their version of reality, turn a blind eye, and embrace their instilled beliefs at the expense of everything that exists beyond comfort and familiarity.
We can't let people who have talked themselves out of their dreams, talk us out of ours. They may choose to adopt restricted living beneath their gifts and abilities, their natural tendencies even, but we don’t have to subscribe to hand-me-down fears and limitations.
We all need to take a leap now and then, whatever that means for each of us. Life without leaps will meet our basic needs for survival, but that’s not all we’re here for.
Conformity is often not the path to fulfillment and our highest calling.
When is the last time you did something daring? Something that stretched you and utilized your gifts and abilities fully? If not lately, why not?
Perhaps in the past, you’ve made a decision that seemed scary but once you made it, your heart and spirit sang with excitement. You knew without a doubt it had been worth stretching for. Remember? Is it time to take another leap of faith?
For today, let’s identify what beliefs could be limiting us, and give due consideration to the things that are beckoning us to more life.
Cheers to each of us living all of the LIFE we are capable of, and the courage to take the leaps we were born for. Adventure awaits!
