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While reading Enough:Finding More By Living With Less I was deeply impacted by a quote of Vincent Muli Wa Kituku that the author shared.
Over 80 percent of adults don’t live up to their greatness because they suffer from what I call “African Impala Syndrome”. Jumping high and forward is an inborn talent for the survival of the African impala. The impala is known to jump about ten feet high. This high jump propels the impala to land about thirty feet from the spot where it starts. With this ability of vertical and horizontal jumping, the impala survives and thrives in the carnivore-infested savannas of Africa.
However, the impala has a unique limitation. It jumps only when it can see where it will land. I once read from an issue of “Bits and Pieces” that when the African impala is confined in a three-foot high fence, it won’t jump. As I think of the African impala, I often wonder how we fail to live up to our potential because we suffer from “African Impala Syndrome.” We don’t “jump” unless we can see “where we will land.” (from the book Overcoming Buffaloes at Work and in Life)
This verse has been rolling around in my head since I finished Enough, and so I want to ask you the same questions this quote is asking of me
“What are you afraid of?”
“What is holding you back from making that leap?”
“Do you have the ability yet lack the faith?”
“Is it really a no time problem or is it a fear problem?”
“What could happen if you would just take that leap?’
“Can you dream that big? or are you too afraid?”
“If you really trust God as much as you say you do, then shouldn’t you be able to take that jump knowing He is going to help you leap over that fence and soften the impact of your landing on the other side?”
Trade your fear for faith, take that leap even though you don’t know where you will land, and watch amazing things unfold.
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I do have fears but I certainly work on letting them not take over my life. My faith is strong, at least I believe it is strong. If I didn’t have faith in Our Lord then I wouldn’t be pregnant again. I trust that His will is best but I sometimes fear that I may suffer again. I don’t think that fear is a lack of faith. I think the that trusting Him even if you have fear is the most important. I do think that not stepping out even if you have fear is a lack of faith. Maybe that is your whole point. Thanks for sharing.
Yes exactly! not stepping out because of fear is lack of faith but of course we can be faithful and fearful at the same time but when we let fear win, we are not giving faith the power we are giving fear the power.
Loved this post! I saw it on the Inspired Bloggers Network and I’ll definitely be sharing it today. Thanks for the wise words!
Definitely struggled with fear a long time. It does often get the best of me unfortunately. I know that it’s only through faith that I am able to overcome my fears.
I enjoyed your post and loved the title!