I had set off across the lake. Yes, it was frozen. Yes, I had snowshoes on. Half way across the bay is a small island. I have never actually gone on the island. If fact, this was the first time I had considered it. There were lots of animal tracks going back and forth from shore. I wondered what I would find. I stood at the edge and contemplated going on land. How often do we stand on the edge when fear of the unknown prevents us from taking the next step?

My youngest is having ongoing issues from a concussion (TBI) three years ago. Most recently the psychologist used magnets as part of the treatment. My first reaction was – huh? She did what? Fear of the unknown set in. Then in my usual fashion, I did some research. Apparently there is a new FDA approved treatment called TMS. This is a magnetic device used to treat depression. Wow. How is it that I hadn’t heard of this? I know enough to understand that we are more than an a compilation of cells. We are energy. We have electrical impulses (nerves). In fact, researchers can measure the electromagnetic field from the heart up to 20 feet away. This new TMS therapy is providing tremendous results. Yet, a fear of the unknown can keep us from learning, understanding and exploring the many things God has for us.

I know I have missed out on friendships along with other opportunities because of a fear of the unknown. It is so easy to shrug off what we don’t understand as wrong or weird. Yet, God gives us this incredible globe filled with ideas, understandings, ways of knowing, ways of loving and so much more.

Then God said, “I’ve given you
every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
And every kind of fruit-bearing tree,
given them to you for food.
To all animals and all birds,
everything that moves and breathes,
I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.”
And there it was.
31 God looked over everything he had made;
it was so good, so very good!
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Six. (Genesis 1:29-31 NIV).

He also tells us that there is no fear in love. Yet, we often approach the unknown with fear first. Fear of different medical treatments, healing, unknown cultures, unknown religions, and unknown others cause us to step back rather than step forward from the edge.

I don’t want to be stuck in what I already know. I want to embrace life as an explorer with curiosity and kindness without leaving behind critical thinking. I can take what I know without fear of the unknown and be challenged to grown and learn more about God and His amazing creations. Will you join me?

How has God challenged you to step over the edge? What did you do? Share your story here, and we can encourage each other.