by
+EdieMelson @EdieMelson
Now to Him who is able to do far
more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that
works within us, Ephesians 3:20
Sometimes
(more often than not) I get caught up in the process of life. I’m an analytical
sort of person, and I’m definitely a planner. With every project I tackle, I
make plans, trying to anticipate any possible potholes and pitfalls. I build timelines and
set expectations.
I’m also
a recovering perfectionist.
For
years I didn’t realize I was a perfectionist, but I definitely am. My
perfectionism shows itself in strange ways. In the past it has kept me from
trying anything I thought I couldn’t succeed at. For me, failure wasn’t an
option. That translated into a hurdle that kept me from pursuing my dreams.
Truthfully,
that issue does continue to crop up from time to time. (I can anticipate the
snickers this engenders in my family and close friends as they read this.)
In the
past I’ve gone to great lengths to build in safeguards that keep failure at bay
when I tackle a difficult project. I always thought of these things as packing
a parachute. They’d be a built-in safety net that would keep me from crashing
and burning if I hadn’t covered all the possibilities.
Then one
day I felt a metaphoric tap on the shoulder from the Holy Spirit. He asked me a
question I’ve never forgotten.
Are you
skydiving or flying?
You see
God is in the business of helping us to fly. He’s not interested in skydiving, and He has no need of parachutes.
Sure there are things we need to do to get ready to fly, but packing a parachute
isn’t one of them. God wants us to fly free, chasing the dreams He's set into our hearts. His plan doesn't include the encumbrances of safety nets and parachute. When He's in control, they're just extra baggage that can hold us tethered to the ground.