Just Go For It!

Have you ever said to yourself: ‘Oh, I’ll do that another time.’ or ‘I’m not sure if I really want to do that now.’ or ‘Well, the weather doesn’t seem good to do that.’ And so you delay or put off or never do something you had hoped to do. At some point, you may look back sadly and wonder, ‘Now why didn’t I do that?’ Or the opportunity has disappeared to see someone because they may have moved or become ill or even died. So you might have deep regrets later about not doing it – whatever the ‘it’ was.

Last weekend, I was leading a retreat and preaching in Jamestown, NY, at the church of Rev. Adam Rohler, one of my friends and spiritual companions. We had a free morning before the retreat started, and since we were only an hour and a half away from Niagara Falls, Adam drove me there – a place I had never been. It was a stormy, rainy, windy, messy day – one of those days you want to curl up in a comfy chair with a blanket over your legs and read a good book. Certainly it would have been easy to say: ‘Oh, let’s not go, I can always come back again in nicer weather. We really don’t have to go.’

But we went. Looking down on the American side of the Falls, I thought they were beautiful, but we really couldn’t get a good view. We decided we would walk across the bridge to Canada. So armed with a flimsy umbrella and our jackets, we set out. The view from the bridge was awesome, but we were practically blown away and were soaking wet. The flimsy umbrella turned inside out so many times that we tossed it in the nearest wastebasket. Even though we’d considered taking the little boat Maid of the Mist that goes close to the Falls, it didn’t seem like a good day for that.

In the gift shop where we bought a hat to keep my wet hair out of my face, the woman at the counter asked if we’d taken the boat. ‘Oh, we’re debating it,’ we answered. ‘It doesn’t seem like such a good idea in this weather.’ She smiled and said, ‘It’s an amazing experience to feel the power of the Falls.’ So Adam and I looked at each other, shrugged, and said, ‘Let’s just go for it. We’re already wet. Why not??’

Indeed, why not!! It was one of those moments that are almost too precious to write about. As our boat pulled up to the magnificent Horseshoe Falls and bounced in the water like an insignificant ping pong ball, it seemed we were about to go into the Falls. Adam and I stood with our mouths wide open, our faces streaming with rainwater, the splash of God’s powerful Falls, and tears of sheer joy. I remember saying to Adam, ‘I’m not afraid; I’m overwhelmed with awe at God’s beauty.’ And Adam answered, ‘Maybe that’s what it feels like when we die – no fear, just a sense of awe with God.’

Yes, I’m grateful we ‘just went for it.’ I may never have the opportunity to experience that God-moment again. So, friends, just go for it!

Thank you, God, for letting us see such places as Niagara Falls – another example of your beauty and power in this amazing world. Teach us to pay attention when we feel we should move ahead and go for it. May we not be afraid. May we trust You. Amen.

Joy Carol