Years ago in school, I was once one of the shyest boys around. Girls teased me no end, and other boys bullied me till one day at the morning assembly, I heard my head master say something that changed my life. “Most people,” he said, “tiptoe through life and finally reach death!”
I went home mulling over those words and realized I was doing just that. I was scared of my own shadow, was quite an introvert and hated to take the lead in anything. I decided things would change from that day; I resolved I was not going to tiptoe through life but would lengthen my stride, quicken my pace andmarch through life like a general. I’m not sure I’ve reached the ‘General’ stage but I’m sure not a tiptoer any more!
A very tired traveler came to the banks of a river. There was no bridge by which he could cross. It was winter, and the surface of the river was covered with ice. It was getting dark, and he wanted to reach the other side while there was enough light to see. He debated whether or not the ice would bear his weight.
Finally, after much hesitation and fear, he got down on his knees and
began very cautiously to creep across the surface of the ice. He hoped that by distributing the weight of his body, the ice would be less apt to break under the load.
After he made his slow and painful journey about halfway across the
river, he suddenly heard the sound of singing behind him. Out of the dusk, there came a 4-horse load of coal driven by a man singing merrily as he went his carefree way. Here was the traveler, fearfully inching his way on his hands and knees. And there, as if whisked along by the winter’s wind, went the driver, his horses, his sled, and the heavy load of coal over the same river!
The story reiterates what I was saying at the beginning: How many of us go through life on tiptoe?
Some stand on the bank of decisions unable to make up their minds about
the course to take. Others stand on the banks trying to muster enough courage to cross over to the other side of the task or problem encountered. On the other hand, some individuals crawl and creep through life for fear of thin ice.
Their confidence in themselves is not strong enough to hold them up.
Still there are those who whisk along whistling as they go. Their
confidence is UNSHAKABLE.
How did I change my thinking?
I asked God to walk with me, to give me courage in moments of fear, which believe you me were once in five minutes if not more, and I asked Him to let me live life to it’s fullest.
Today as I look back I can say with full assurance that when we face the river of difficulties, we do not have to fear, nor do we have to creep through life. There’s help from above and with that help we can merrily make our way to the other side safely!
Stand up, stop tiptoeing, start walking..!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Being an introvert myself, can well relate to this story Yeah am not tiptoeing any more too Owe it all to His grace ?
Well Bob, any difficult situation would require to assessed coolly keeping in mind one’s capability. Normally, it has to be within the realm of possibility. But then, if there is no way to escape the intractable problem, one must sincerely pray for God’s help and proceed towards its redressal with all one’s might steadfastly leaving the outcome in His hand.
?Pl read as follows:
Well, any difficult situation would require to be assessed coolly before trying to tackle it keeping in mind one’s capability. Normally, it has to be within the realm of possibility. But then, if there is no way to escape the intractable problem, one must sincerely pray for God’s help and proceed towards its redressal with all one’s might steadfastly leaving the outcome in His hand.
Beautiful story of caution thrown to the winds by the rider unlike the slow and steady crawler. But God’s our Hope, it’s true. I too am cautious. I was shy. I lost fear when angry at times. I thank God for His love that carries us across the river when we love, trust and obey Him and pray to Him.