There are times in each of our lives that crucial decisions must be made. Do
we choose to keep things comfortable and safe, deciding not to ‘rock the
boat’….. or do we dare depart from our comfort zone, understanding that the
rewards may far outweigh the discomfort we may feel as we venture out into the
unknown. A famous writer once spoke of a dilemma that he faced as a young man,
having to choose between taking the well-traveled road that was most familiar,
or consider taking the road “less traveled”. Unfortunately, for me and many
others, we sometimes find ourselves opting for the easier path through
life.
I understand that it’s only human to make every effort to avoid as
much discomfort and doubt as possible. Speaking only for myself, I can say that
it takes a strong motivation for me to leave the safety and security of my
normal, everyday routine in order to strive for something that will undoubtedly
create challenges and may include additional complications and uncertainty in my
life. I would like to share with you the motivating factors that led me to start
a foundation as well as publish and now publicize a book that I believe can have
a long-lasting positive impact on children. My motivations range from my work
experience in mental health to a young girl in the small country of
Nicaragua.
Over the years that I’ve worked as a therapist, I’ve listened
to clients as they’ve described a multitude of scenarios and unique
circumstances that have occurred over the span of their lives. In therapy
sessions, it’s important to identify and access one’s motives for reacting to
life events in the manner that they do. Many of these reactions, good and bad,
are greatly influenced by fear. Fear is an incredible motivator. I find myself
to be no different when it comes to this powerful emotion. Looking back, I
realize that one of my primary motivations for writing my book was fear…fear for
my own children as I envisioned the many traps and snares awaiting them in a
world that is becoming more opposed to Christian values as each day passes. As a
therapist, I have worked with many young people that have “issues” that most
would find shocking and disturbing. On a professional level, the work has been
fulfilling and rewarding, being given an
opportunity to positively impact the
life of a child. But as a parent, it scared me to think that my children will be
sharing a classroom where these issues exist. Fear motivated me to take action.
I created a tool designed to assist kids in developing the skills necessary to
successfully navigate through an increasingly complicated world filled with
negative influences. This tool is the book I’ve written, Don’t Forget Your
Shield!
Ana, a young girl from Juigalpa, Nicaragua, was my primary
motivation for starting my foundation, Shield The World. Years ago, I had the
privilege of serving at an orphanage in Juigalpa, and was introduced to a
building full of children with their own unique stories of heartbreak. Many of
these children had miraculously survived the streets or abusive homes, truly
fortunate to have been rescued by the orphanage. The orphanage provided
adequately for the children, an accomplishment considering the limited resources
that were available. Although their basic daily needs were being satisfied,
nurturing and love were the missing ingredients in their lives. As we served the
children, this became painfully obvious. They competed for our attention from
sun up to sundown. Each had their own unique strategy and our mission team was
more than happy to oblige them. Although I did my best to give each child equal
time, there was one child that always seemed to stand
out….Ana.
Ana
was 12 years-old when we met. She was a rough kid, lots of scratches and bruises
as she didn’t mind mixing it up with the boys. While most of the girls paid
close attention to neatness and hygiene, it was obvious that these things were
not high on Ana’s priority list. Many of the kids clung to each other for
support, but Ana was not included. It appeared that she was too much of a “tom
boy” to relate to the girls while the boys did not believe it was “cool” to
include her as one of their own. Sadly, she was alone in the world, and this was
evident in her behaviors. She was relentless as she garnered attention from the
mission team, using an “in your face” approach with an endless supply of energy.
It’s hard to explain, but being in her presence was enough to sense a deeply
troubled past. The lady that resided over the orphanage later told me that Ana’s
early years were darker than any child that had entered the orphanage.
I’m
pleased to say that I’ve had many opportunities to revisit Juigalpa over
the past six years and have developed a close relationship with Ana. Although
she has experienced many ups and downs, she has made incredible strides
considering the many obstacles that she has faced in her young life. She would
now be described by most as a “charming” young lady, exhibiting a hint of
confidence and excellent social skills. Although times are always tough in
Nicaragua, she is presently employed and has a safe place to live. The
experience of knowing Ana and seeing her grow has provided a great deal of
inspiration and has motivated me to establish Shield The World, a foundation
that will help kids like Ana around the world in the name of God.
As I
consider upcoming book signings, radio interviews, and speaking engagements, I
realize that I’m in the process of packing my bags, preparing for the “road less
traveled by”….but this time I will go with the understanding that I’m not alone.
So many times in the past, I have chosen to make my own way, refusing to give up
the illusion of being the one in control. I’m proud to say that I now use God’s
road map. “And that has made all the difference.”
