I remember when I was about 8 years old and learning to swim I was challenged by a friend to jump off the diving board at our YMCA. I remember standing there for at least a minute before jumping in. I went straight down and it took awhile to get back near the water surface. My expert swimmer friend thought I was in trouble and jumped in to help me and accidently pushed me back down. I thought my life was over – my short years flashed through my brain when he finally helped me get back up so I could take a huge gasp of air. Needless to say, it was awhile before I jumped off a diving board again. But I did. I actually ended up loving the water and boogey boarding in the ocean. We all have our fears – and the only way to get past them is to defeat them by challenging them. No guilt, no fear, no condemnation – nothing but hope for the future. That’s what God wants for us – his children.