Learning to Fly

Ever since Matt was a little boy, he’s been cautious. Unlike his carefree sister, Matt always evaluated a situation by its potential risks and benefits. This meant that he avoided the little airplanes at the State Fair, that he was sometimes willing to stand on the sidelines rather than take – and miss – the big shot and that the fear of the unknown kept him from experiencing his full potential.

Often during these years, I would try and help Matt see that his cautiousness sometimes caused him to miss out. In retrospect, maybe Matt’s cautiousness made me feel like he (and I) were missing out – but either way, I was consistently trying to motivate him to think less and enjoy the moment. After all, I wasn’t calling him to be reckless and irresponsible. I just wanted him to enjoy his giftings and all the opportunities life had to offer.

When I would get frustrated and fed up, (don’t hate on me) I would put my foot down and demand him to do whatever it was that I had decided he should do. In these moments, I vividly remember telling him, “Matt, I am kicking you out of this safe little nest we’re in, but it’s ok, because you have wings. All you have to do is flap them. You can fly!”

If you parent long enough, you know that our “words of wisdom” often come back around and bite us in the backside. This is exactly what happened to me last year, as I felt God’s prompting on my heart to pursue this dream of Robin May Ministries. This idea of transparently sharing my stories to help myself and others embrace our brokenness and find our true identity in God was a risky one. I saw the millions of reasons why leaving my nest made no sense. I saw what it could cost me: time, money, respect and pride, all the while struggling to visualize the potential benefits of bearing my soul and investing my resources.

Thankfully God was persistent in communicating His desire for me and eventually I heard him saying, ““Robin, I am kicking you out of this safe little nest we’re in, but it’s ok, because you have wings. All you have to do is flap them. You can fly!”

Here we are, six months later, and I am still relying on God to whisper in my ear, “Just keep flapping.” Somedays I still feel like I’m not enough to sustain this project, like my book will never be finished and that no one wants to read the crazy thoughts that run through my brain.
And then God blesses me with an interaction with you.

He allows our paths to cross here in town at the gym, a concert or at church. You stop me and tell me how a recent post connected to your story - and my heart is overjoyed.

He allows me to see you during my workday, four hours from home. You tell me how you shared something I wrote with a friend who needed it - and I am moved to tears.

He allows you to find and read this in California or Texas or South Carolina. You leave a comment and give me the privilege of sitting with you in your brokenness - and I know I am doing exactly what God wants me to be doing.

For every comment, conversation or interaction you have had with Robin May Ministries, thank you. I didn’t see you when I was sitting in my nest, but now I do. You were my motivation all along – my why for doing this crazy thing. God is using you to encourage me, to affirm His calling, and to grow my trust in His plan. For this, I am in your debt. I appreciate you and thank you.

Please keep reading, sharing and trusting. “He who began a good work will be faithful to see it to completion.” Phillipians 1:6