Tales of the Talking Tiger

Nothing scares me more than going to the dentist.

Perhaps that’s a bit strong. Other things scare me – bungy jumping, getting stuck in a snow cave on Mt Everest, falling down a waterfall – but I can avoid these things. There’s only so long I can avoid the dentist.

After cancelling three times I decided that last Thursday was the day, and so with all the courage I could muster I walked in to the surgery.

It wasn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be.

This year I’ve experienced more than my usual number of fear-inducing experiences. Through these experiences I’ve discovered there is a lot of benefit in tackling what you fear head on. Two examples come to mind.

1. At my church we have a 3 minute talk for the kids each Sunday before they go out to kids church (Sunday School). Earlier this year it was my turn to do the kids talk. I was terrified. But I didn’t have a choice. Since then I have given several talks (where the average age of the kids is three!) and I feel like I have improved and have learnt how to (better) communicate with kids.

2. Similarly, my first visit to the local nursing home was very confronting. Many of the people there are in a bad way. Most of them are unable to talk and spend their days lying in a movable bed with very little interaction with the world around them. My mum can tell you that hospitals really aren’t my thing. Being in the nursing home is not at all different to being in a hospital. Yet four times this year I’ve visited the nursing home to lead a service and give a Bible talk to any of the residents there who would like to come along. My love for these people who are in a pretty terrible life situation has grown greatly, and whilst I still find it hard, I value the opportunity to share my life and my hope with people who don’t have many visitors and whose lives are fast coming to a close.

If I hadn’t signed up to the apprenticeship I’m doing at Church by the Bridge I wouldn’t have been in these situations – it would have been much easier to avoid the things that I didn’t want to do. If I was asked to speak at a nursing home, my quick response would be “thanks, but no thanks – that’s too hard for me”. Yet I have no regrets about doing what intially terrified me. In fact, I’m glad I was pushed and stretched and challenged out of my comfort zone and beyond – I’ve learnt more by attempting what scared me than I would have ever learnt by swimming in the easy lane.

In my next post I’ll share some of the things that I’ve learnt, and encourage you to stick your head in the lions cage.

PS – I can recommend a great dentist in Wahroonga.

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