GRAZING GRACE

THE FEAR OF THE FIRST TIME

BY GREG A. LANE

I asked a young boy in my elementary class at church to pray over the meal we were about to eat during a Wednesday night service. He matter-of-factly told me he didn’t want to do it. When I asked why he didn’t want to pray for our meal, he replied, “Because, I’ve never prayed in front of people before.” When he said that, I had a flashback to the first time I prayed out loud in front of a group of people.

I was 14 years old at the time, and was visiting a church in Georgia with some friends. There must have been 20 people in the Sunday School class I was in that morning, and I didn’t know a single one of them. The teacher of the class asked everybody in the classroom to say a word of prayer as we went around the room. I was scared to death! As one person finished praying, the next person in the circle started to pray. My time to pray was quickly approaching. My heart was racing. I looked down and could literally see the vibrations of my heartbeat through my shirt. I had no idea what I was going to say as beads of sweat began to accumulate on my forehead. When my turn to pray finally came, with quivering voice, I said, “Lord, bless everyone in this room here, today, Amen.” Short, sweet, and nervously spoken … my very first prayer ever spoken out loud in front of other people.

I told that story to the shy, young boy and to the rest of my class on that Wednesday night. I told him, “There’s a first time for everything you do in life. Tonight can be your first time to pray in front of a group of people just like I did all those years ago. Once you’ve gotten your first time out of the way, you’ll finally be free from the fear of doing it for the first time.” After my short word of encouragement, the little boy had changed his mind. He agreed to ask the blessing over the meal that night. He did an excellent job at formulating his words and saying what was on his heart. His first time to pray out loud in front of other people was over. A fear had been overcome! He was now free from “The Fear of the First Time.”

Listen, every "first" I've ever had in my life has been awkward. My first dive off the diving board? A belly-flop. My first time to ride a bike? I ended up in the bushes. My first time to speak in front of a crowd? I stumbled over my words and embarrassed myself. And I'm not even going to mention how my first kiss went! But here I am today, diving, riding, speaking and, yes, even kissing, because I didn't give up after my first miserable attempts. Getting past the “firsts” is one of the biggest hangups we have as humans, but once we get past “The Fear of the First

Time,” the second time and third time and fourth time are so much easier.

So, here we are at the “first” of a new year. What will it hold for us? Will we do the same things we've always done, or will we attempt a few “firsts"?

Each of us is born with the spirit of an adventurer inside of us. Curiosity and the desire to discover and learn new things were driving factors for us when we were children. But, as we get older, we stifle the voice of that spirit within us as we begin to settle into our comfort zone. Before that spirit dies altogether, each person must experience their own personal revival, or else, plan their own personal funeral. A decision has to be made. Will we surrender to our comfort zones and put up “No Trespassing” signs, or will we expand our borders and seek out new life experiences to enjoy?

I don't know about you, but I'm planning on having a revival. You see, there are boundary lines around me that need to be expanded, new businesses that need to be started, new foods that need to be tasted, new songs that need to be sung, new poems that need to be written, creative solutions for problems that need to be discovered, new people to

meet, new places to go, new words that need to be spoken, and new activities to be involved in. Many of these things will only be accomplished by breaking through “The Fear of the First Time.”

I humbly submit to you that this will be a year of FIRSTS for many who are reading this article. And, remember this: First time experiences aren't just for children and teenagers. Sarah had her first baby when she was 90 years old. (Don't you know that raised a few eyebrows!) Moses' first time to lead a large group of people happened when he was 80. Jesus' first miracle didn't take place until he was 30. So, I wonder what FIRSTS you and I will experience this year?

Accept this Challenge for 2024: Try something new, for the first time … even if it means ordering something new off the menu at your favorite restaurant. Sit in a different pew or seat at the church you attend … one you’ve never sat in before. Try your hand at a new hobby … painting, poetry, woodworking … something you’ve never tried before. Refuse to be held by the thought that there are no more new experiences to discover.

Overcome “THE FEAR OF THE FIRST TIME.