When was the last time you took the plunge? When did you make the choice to do something that wasn’t easy for you to do? As recorded in the dictionary, taking the plunge is: to enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of action, as after hesitation or deliberation.
You might be asking why I chose the visual of kayaking to pose a question such as this. Pictured above, you can see this kayaker taking the plunge off of a ten foot cliffside into the water below. Pictured below you see two other kayakers literally plunging full body into the massive rapids. The reason why I choose these visuals is to represent a picture of what it means, in the face of fear and hesitation, to enter into the unknowns of the adventure environment.
As a kayaker myself, I can relate to what these boaters may have been feeling in the midst of their plunges. River waters are very powerful, and can be very dangerous if not approached appropriately. One thing I have learned however, along with the relentless power of rivers, is the fact that they are predictable. With the proper knowledge about rivers one is able to understand that a river has characteristics that we can use either for or against our advantage.
Every time I have entered the waters of a river I have experienced some sort of healthy fear of the ultimate unknown of what could come of my actions. Have these thoughts stopped me however, from allowing myself to enjoy what God has created? Not yet. I have found it to be such an incredible feeling when I am able to keep paddling when, in the distance, I can see the horizon line dropping and hear the waters being stirred up as the powerful rapids take their form. I have found that in this moment of hesitation and fear I have two choices: 1. To back down and bail out, which can sometimes put you in an even scarier position or 2. Make the choice to paddle hard with the confidence of the knowledge I do have and enjoy the ride however crazy it may be sometimes.
Now taking the plunge is not to inappropriately put yourself into a potentially dangerous situation just for the thrill of it. Taking the plunge requires a balance of proper knowledge, healthy fear, and good judgment calls. When these three are combined it makes for an incredible opportunity to learn and be stretched by trying new things. I have met people who think I’m crazy for wanting to go down a river with rapids this big just for the challenge and enjoyment it brings me. We must decide for ourselves what causes us to hesitate or fear, and make it a purpose to plunge into these things with a confident spirit, knowing that to overcome our fear is to experience release and freedom to enjoy life more fully.
I have found that each time I take the plunge into something difficult for me to do, I become more likely to do it again the next time. We must learn through continual experience how to develop a lifestyle that is able to take the plunge when it is good for us to do so. So what are you waiting for, take the plunge!
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