20 Seconds of Courage

My friend Hannah's favorite movie is We Bought A Zoo. This movie is about a widowed father with two children. The father, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon), moves with his two children to a zoo in desperate need of a renovation. When Benjamin tells the story of how he met his wife to their children, he uses the concept of "20 Seconds of Courage." Recently, I have been applying this concept to my own life.

 
 
When I was in Uganda, I went bungee jumping into the Nile River. Are they really only going to strap me in just by my ankles? Will the rope not snap? Am I going to get really wet or am I just going to touch the water?

 
 
On the first day of classes next week I still will be nervous. Who will be in my classes? Will I know anyone? Did I make it to the right room? Is this even my class? Why are there so many freshmen and sophomores? Will the professor keep us the entire class period?

 
 
In everyday life we all get nervous about something. When I get nervous I get all shaky; like a leaf as it's been described before. My hands tremble, my heart races and sometimes I can't stop talking. This usually happens when I'm about to be out of my comfort zone or meet new people or see people I haven't seen in a long time.

Lately though, when I get nervous, I pause. Take a deep breath, close my eyes (unless I'm driving then I don't close my eyes) and try to calm myself. This usually involves me thinking "20 Seconds of Courage" as well as saying a small prayer.

Today, my dorm was out of power for about 6 hours. Thankfully I was only in the dark for 4 of those 6 hours because I went to see a movie (Frozen, the third time). After the movie I walked into the lobby and it was still pitch black, everywhere, not even emergency lights on. I got nervous. UTM is a safe campus, I know, but I've seen too many scary movies that involve dark places and females who are alone with only a dying cell phone and chap stick.

So when I swiped my card and the door unlocked for my hall, I opened the door and was greeted with darkness, the only light coming my cell phone. I thought "20 seconds of courage. Lord, keep me safe." then walked down the hallway. 10, 11, 12...I turned down the hall my dorm was on...16, 17...I put my key in the lock and the blot slid back...20. Safe in my dorm. I would have done a victory dance if I wasn't so cold from being outside.

This is only one of the many times that I have applied this concept. I find it fitting for situations where I need calm and courage. Next time you're nervous about something, remember "20 seconds of courage."