June 4 - Face a Challenge/Fear

I served an LDS mission in Brazil quite a few years ago and I remember this one horrific night.  Now, you have to know that I have a phobia of creepy, crawly things and that includes frogs.  Well, I was in a particularly wet area of Brazil for the space of three months.  There was tall grass every where and whenever it rained, the frogs came out of the grass and would take their chances on the street.  One night we were walking home and the rain was coming down so hard!  We were soaked through and there were SO many frogs.  I'd never really understood the affects of fear till that night.  A car had zoomed passed us, scaring all of the frogs onto the sidewalk...I stood frozen in my spot as numerous frogs bounced off my legs.  All I could do was stand there and cry, it was so ridiculous!

And yet, I couldn't let the fear go and move my feet again.  Rather than laugh at me or downplay my fear, my mission companion Sister Barros took my hand and told me to keep my eyes closed.  She guided me the mile and a half home, telling me when to step down or up, when to turn, when to pause or when a car was coming.  She sang songs in between her instructions to keep my mind off of what was happening.  The full affects of her kindness didn't sink in till we had gotten home, safe and sound.  I will never forget that, that night she helped me face a fear.

There are so many things that can keep us stuck in one place...a fear of the unknown or maybe you have faced the challenge before and failed...so why would this time be different?  Today, just try...try to face that challenge or fear.  There is no harm in trying and if you can't do it alone, like I couldn't with the frogs...find a friend to help.

Depending on my mood, the lyrics to Coldplay's Lost come to mean two different things, for today's challenge I wanted to focus on these lyrics:

Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I'm across

Just because I'm hurting
Doesn't mean I'm hurt
I just got Lost!

So today, find your way, try again and win!  Don't stop trying!