Five-Minute Friday – Dive
Linking in again to Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Fridays. With the word “dive” I take 5 minutes to write – no editing. GO
High Dive Public Domain Archival Stock Footage by PublicDomainFootage
When my kids were small I decided to take swimming lessons. I knew how to swim but wanted to improve my strokes and learn to dive. One lesson we were asked to climb the HIGH – and I mean high – diving board. At that time in my life I had a real fear of heights so just climbing that ladder was an act of will. All the way up the ladder I kept saying to myself, “You’re crazy, you’re crazy”. But I reached the top and then crept, ever so slowly to the edge of the platform. I looked down…
down…
down…
That was a long way down. We had all decided that this was only going to be a jump from the high platform, not a dive. I stood there. Really all I wanted to do was retrace my steps back down the ladder. Only problem – there were people behind me. So I jumped!
All
the
way
down. I went – into the water, and then back up again. Whew! I did it. Would I do it again? NEVER – EVER. Exhilarating as the fall felt, the landing in the water was painful.
What did I learn?
1. I can do things that don’t seem possible.
2. I should always try something at least once.
3. The fear of doing something is worse than the actual experience.
Time’s up.
Question: When have you “dove” into something – it doesn’t have to be water. How did it feel? Would you do it again?
Here from FMF! 🙂
I’ve never literally dove off of a diving board. But in my life – in different seasons – I’ve felt the nudge from God to dive in. And it scared me to death. I’m back there again. Slowly but surely making my way to the deep end.
Thanks for such a great post!
Mary,
Good for you. Yes, we need to push past the fear – (irrational fear) and plunge in – knowing the God is with us and He can do anything, even dive with us off high diving board.
Blessings,
Janis
I almost drowned when I was 212 in a swimming pool – that aside I decided to get over my fear of bearded red heads (married to a verbally abusive one for years) The Lord allowed another in my path during my YWAM years – God has a sense of humor… I am now married to the second redhead…. WHAT A BLESSING HE IS!!
Were you 12 or 21 – that’s awful. I learned to swim when I was 5 – and am so grateful to my parents for encouraging me to learn. Happy to hear that you could push past your “fear of redheads” and be married to a blessed one.
Blessings,
janis
I was 12 – typo. Some friends encouraged me to swim across the deep end and back – said they’d help if I didn’t make it – I didn’t make it and it took forever to realize I could float – wrote a story about this – finally made it and felt like I swallowed 1/2 the pool – had gone under 3 times and pulled friend under and almost drowned her too… God was watching out for me even then when I didn’t know him!
Yes, I know what you mean when you said God watches us – I look back over my life and see His hand all over.
Thanks,
Janis
Oh , Janis
I can just see you trying to encourage yourself to do that dive. Priceless! I cannot see the fun in diving from that high! If our dear Lord wanted us to fly, He would have given is wings! Ha, ha!
Mia,
You make me laugh. Yes it would have been one of the youtube moments I am sure (if we had youtube back then). And yes I like my feet on “terra firma”. My husband loves to boat – I go with him but it is not my passion. I would rather walk.
Blessings
Janis