Evi Wusk

Photography by Curt Brinkmann

My own face squished up wet, next to her little tear-soaked cheek.  I hugged her and told her we would get brave together.

My daughter woke up in the middle of the night, scared of the “monster on her wall.”   

We tip-toed up and touched the shadow together.  It wasn’t until we got right up next to the source of her fear that she realized it wasn’t real.  We laughed at the fear, and that helped too.

Whether you’re three or 103, there’s one way to see if your fear is real.

Get up close and personal with it.

Yeah, actually move toward it (insert awkward laugh here).  The anxiousness fades when we realize we don’t need to get brave alone.  Get a buddy to be brave with you, laugh at the fear and take one itty bitty bolstered-step toward that thing that you’re sure is holding you back.  Yes, some things we go through really are scary, but sometimes it’s not all that scary after all.  And yes, sometimes when I act courageously it doesn’t work out, but sometimes it works out in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

I’m starting to see that my fear pops up most aggressively when I’m going to something that matters.  What if instead of using the fear as an indicator to run, I used it as an barometer, telling me to keep moving, keep trying to help?

We’ll never know if the fear is real unless we take the courage God’s giving us and act!  Take that little step and live your thanks today.

I recently got an idea that seemed scary.  I wanted to share my friend Curt Brinkmann’s photos here.  Because I was scared, I asked.  I am glad I did.  The little guy pictured above has a “God-given quality that makes everyone around him feel better.”  Curt and his photography also have that quality.  Check out his new, beautiful website at http://www.lifesastoryphotography.com.