Fear Factors…

When this posts, I will be headed to the airport.

Again.

If you have read this blog before you may have heard this once or twice, I am afraid of flying. Not dying, flying.

More specifically, heights, being trapped in a small space, and turbulence.

I don’t like roller coasters, and I certainly don’t want to be on a roller coaster at 30,000 feet where I can’t see what is coming.

But one year ago this month I got on a plane and flew to the Mount Hermon to the Christian Writers Conference, and everything changed for my family and me.

I met people – writers – who encouraged and bossed me around, told me how important it was to blog, and to let go of first drafts… and second and third drafts. And I was obedient to their wisdom because I respected them. I enjoyed their company, and I knew that they were trying to help.  And although a lot of what they were telling me was scary, the blessing is worth the risk.

And now it is time to go back to Mt. Hermon, which means I have to get on a plane.  And I just got off a plane on Sunday. As much as I hate to fly, the blessing is worth the risk.

It occurs to me, since that maiden voyage this time last year I have flown six other times.

So many opportunities came about because of that trip to the San Jose, California and a writing conference in the woods…the blessing is worth the risk.

I nearly chickened out of the trip to Florida. It was raining.   Storming.

 

And storming means a bumpy plane ride.  But with a little Xanax, a little cocktail, and a lot of Jesus… off I went.  In Florida, I was richly blessed with new friends.

 

Giving and receiving advice, prayer, lovely meals, laughter, hugs, tears, and sleep. And when I got on the plane to return home I remembered, the blessing is worth the risk.

How many things in my life require me to take a risk in hopes that I can be a part of a blessing. And not a monetary blessing, and not necessarily a blessing on my head. In foster care, it is terrifying to think that my heart might be broken… again. Worse still, that a child will be confused or scared, or my children might suffer the loss of a temporary sibling. However, if a child is offered any comfort and safety – even just a couple days of prayer poured out on them… the blessing is worth the risk.

 

So I may be at 30,000 feet when you read this. I may be experiencing turbulence. I might be faced with a rough landing, and a year of hard work may face rejection. But I will be with other Christian writers.

I will learn, I will pray, I will be reunited with new and old friends. I will have time alone with my mom, and we will continue to work on our fiction project. And I will worship with these dear humans and talk about Jesus, our successes, and our failures. I will encourage, and I will receive encouragement.

And lest I forget, this is my chant as I travel through the air…

 

The blessing is worth the risk…

May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained, Love, Jami

John 14:27 (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid.