The Terrifying Exhilaration of a Comfort-Zone Departure by Georgie Tennant
Isn’t it both terrifying and exhilarating when we step out of our comfort zone into the unknown? It’s something we have to regularly do, as writers and in life.
I have several memories of doing just that and am about to embark on another scary-exciting adventure.
At the tender age of 22, mid-way through my teacher training year, I flew for the first time. Most people might take a short hop somewhere – Edinburgh? Dublin? France? – for their in-sky debut, but not me. With my becoming-serious-and-about-to-be-my-fiancé boyfriend, I got on a plane bound for Zimbabwe, to see his homeland and meet his family.
Two memories stand out. The first was on the plane. Over excited and not-a-little nervous, turbulence over Europe had me becoming intimately acquainted with the inside of a paper bag. The second was soon after arrival. I went out to the separate out-building of my husband’s parents’ house to have a much-needed shower. He escorted me past the enormous Rhodesian Ridgeback prowling the garden and left me to it. As I stepped into the shower, I was met by my worst fear – an enormous spider (think of a large English spider and multiply it by three). I faced a horrifying choice – shower with the spider or walk back past the enormous dog, unaccompanied. I opted for the dog and sprinted back through the garden, collapsing in tears in the arms of my poor boyfriend. I fear it was not the best of first impression on my future in-laws.
On another trip, a few years later, by now married, we boarded the overnight train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, planning to get off, have a day in the Falls, then board the train back the next night. The train was dilapidated but the journey was going well and we fell asleep in the less-than-luxurious bunks.
Georgie Tennant is a secondary school English teacher in a Norfolk Comprehensive. She is married, with two sons, aged 14 and 12 who keep her exceptionally busy. She writes for the ACW ‘Christian Writer’ magazine occasionally, and is a contributor to the ACW-Published ‘New Life: Reflections for Lent,’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Everyone.' She has written 8 books in a phonics series, published by BookLife and is a freelance writer for King's Lynn Magazine. She writes the ‘Thought for the Week’ for the local newspaper from time to time and also muses about life and loss on her blog: www.somepoemsbygeorgie.blogspot.co.uk. Her first devotional book, "The God Who Sees You," will be published by Kevin Mayhew this year.
I have several memories of doing just that and am about to embark on another scary-exciting adventure.
At the tender age of 22, mid-way through my teacher training year, I flew for the first time. Most people might take a short hop somewhere – Edinburgh? Dublin? France? – for their in-sky debut, but not me. With my becoming-serious-and-about-to-be-my-fiancé boyfriend, I got on a plane bound for Zimbabwe, to see his homeland and meet his family.
Two memories stand out. The first was on the plane. Over excited and not-a-little nervous, turbulence over Europe had me becoming intimately acquainted with the inside of a paper bag. The second was soon after arrival. I went out to the separate out-building of my husband’s parents’ house to have a much-needed shower. He escorted me past the enormous Rhodesian Ridgeback prowling the garden and left me to it. As I stepped into the shower, I was met by my worst fear – an enormous spider (think of a large English spider and multiply it by three). I faced a horrifying choice – shower with the spider or walk back past the enormous dog, unaccompanied. I opted for the dog and sprinted back through the garden, collapsing in tears in the arms of my poor boyfriend. I fear it was not the best of first impression on my future in-laws.
On another trip, a few years later, by now married, we boarded the overnight train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, planning to get off, have a day in the Falls, then board the train back the next night. The train was dilapidated but the journey was going well and we fell asleep in the less-than-luxurious bunks.
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| Victoria Falls |
Early in the morning, we woke, expecting to see the mists of the spectacular waterfall rising in the distance. But we didn’t. We were stuck in the middle of rural Zimbabwe because a train ahead of us had hit an elephant. We were waiting for the elephant to be removed, the train line to be repaired and the on-coming train to pass safely. We spent 16 extra hours on that train with only an apple and a packet of rich tea (Marie) biscuits for sustenance. When we finally got going again, it was fascinating to pass the elephant carcass, with a multitude of vultures circling above it. Although stressful at the time, plans-gone-wrong make the best stories later, don’t they?
As you read this I will be six days away from flying to Zimbabwe again, for the first time in seventeen years, this time taking our two boys on their maiden visit to their Dad’s home country (but don’t worry, we practiced flying - to Dublin in October - so they didn’t have to suffer the same fate as me). With the Covid-years echoing behind, I am struggling more than usual to step out of my comfort zone. I am fearful of a thousand things – falling ill and not being able to fly; miscalculating my luggage allowance; missing my flight or connecting flight; carrying cash in an unfamiliar country; being trampled / eaten / gored / mauled by big game; being bitten by mosquitos, cockroaches, spiders, snakes. Even before I get to that point I am stressed about finishing blog posts, magazine articles, birthday poems, exam marking, house-cleaning before I go.
But here is the thing I have to keep reminding myself – the thought I am clinging to: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,” Deuteronomy 33:27. If I don’t ever take a leap into the unknown, in life and in writing, I will remain safely on the ground. But I won’t get any of the exhilarating memories, thrilling stories or life-affirming experiences I might have if I do take the leap. When I leap, I can’t know for sure that things will always be OK or turn out exactly how I think they should, but one thing I can be sure of: underneath are the everlasting arms. Arms that catch and hold and soothe and reassure and lift me from danger and place me on solid ground.
I know too that I have to try to do what is in front of me and trust God with the next steps because the Bible tells us “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matthew 6:34. Lysa Terkeurst, an American Christian Writer added to that thought for me recently: “No worst-case scenario thinking has ever protected me. It’s only projected the possible pain of tomorrow into my day today and fed more fear.”
I am trying to apply this to my writing as well as my preparations for Zimbabwe: I can launch my book, my blog, my poem, my article into the ether with panic, worry and fear. Or I can enjoy the peace of knowing that, wherever and however it lands, “underneath are the everlasting arms.”
I will see you on the other side!
As you read this I will be six days away from flying to Zimbabwe again, for the first time in seventeen years, this time taking our two boys on their maiden visit to their Dad’s home country (but don’t worry, we practiced flying - to Dublin in October - so they didn’t have to suffer the same fate as me). With the Covid-years echoing behind, I am struggling more than usual to step out of my comfort zone. I am fearful of a thousand things – falling ill and not being able to fly; miscalculating my luggage allowance; missing my flight or connecting flight; carrying cash in an unfamiliar country; being trampled / eaten / gored / mauled by big game; being bitten by mosquitos, cockroaches, spiders, snakes. Even before I get to that point I am stressed about finishing blog posts, magazine articles, birthday poems, exam marking, house-cleaning before I go.
But here is the thing I have to keep reminding myself – the thought I am clinging to: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,” Deuteronomy 33:27. If I don’t ever take a leap into the unknown, in life and in writing, I will remain safely on the ground. But I won’t get any of the exhilarating memories, thrilling stories or life-affirming experiences I might have if I do take the leap. When I leap, I can’t know for sure that things will always be OK or turn out exactly how I think they should, but one thing I can be sure of: underneath are the everlasting arms. Arms that catch and hold and soothe and reassure and lift me from danger and place me on solid ground.
I know too that I have to try to do what is in front of me and trust God with the next steps because the Bible tells us “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matthew 6:34. Lysa Terkeurst, an American Christian Writer added to that thought for me recently: “No worst-case scenario thinking has ever protected me. It’s only projected the possible pain of tomorrow into my day today and fed more fear.”
I am trying to apply this to my writing as well as my preparations for Zimbabwe: I can launch my book, my blog, my poem, my article into the ether with panic, worry and fear. Or I can enjoy the peace of knowing that, wherever and however it lands, “underneath are the everlasting arms.”
I will see you on the other side!
So true - some of the best experiences come when we take a risk
ReplyDeleteI can empathise with that first flight, Georgie. Mine was on my own to Rwanda, relying in my old A level French to see me through the transfer in Paris. I was off on a student (OT) placement and volunteering for 3 months and panic attacks gave me pretty much the same reaction as you had!
ReplyDeleteI often think of the Everlasting Arms when I fly (I wrote a poem about it) or Aslan's breath blowing the children to Narnia in The Silver Chair.
God bless your trip and your writing commitments.
They say 'look before you leap', don't they, but I have to say I think that's the worst advice ever, because it's the looking that puts me off, every single time. As a risk-averse person, I need to just leap before I can convince myself otherwise.
ReplyDeleteFeel the fear and do it anyway. Have a wonderful trip. PS I'd have braved the spider rather than face the dog!
ReplyDeleteI'm shuddering at the thought! I don't mind spiders particularly, but not huge hairy ones joining me in my ablutions! A great piece, Georgie, and thanks for sharing with us. I agree with Fran. Just do it! No point peering over the cliff before you launch yourself into the unknown
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I am nervous about flying and am trying not to worry about a long flight (to Canada), later in the year. Thank you for your wise words, Georgie.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Georgie and thanks! I too am travelling for a funeral towards the end of the month to Nigeria. There's the fear of possible kidnapp, getting malaria and all the anxieties that attend one when travelling. The scriptures are comforting and remind us to always trust God in everything that concerns our lives. Matt 6:34. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteStuck between a rock and a hard place has forever been upgraded to stuck between a prowling Rhodesian Ridgeback and an enormous spider! Loved reading your post from beginning to end…great scripture & photo.
ReplyDeleteGreat relatable story, Georgie. I hope the boys thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The thought came to mind that a ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what it was built for. x
ReplyDelete