This past week our Discipleship Quad studied the lesson entitled “Overcoming Fear.” One of the experiences in life that provokes fear is the thought of sharing our Catholic faith with others who do not know our Lord Jesus as their Savior. This is part of what we call evangelization—sharing the life we have in Christ.
Bob Rice, the author of the lessons we follow in the quads, wrote about a man named Charles Blondin, a French tightrope walker and acrobat. He lived in the 19th century and was famous for his stunts. He relates the following:
There is a story of Charles Blondin who walked a tightrope over Niagara Falls on a windy day. “Do you think I can do it?” he asked the small crowd that had gathered. They weren’t sure. So he grabbed his balancing pole and walked across and back without a problem.
“Do you think I can do it without the pole?” he asked the crowd that had now grown larger. Some were concerned, but others were convinced that he could. They cheered as he walked without a pole from one side to the other.
He pointed to a wheelbarrow that was nearby. “Do you think I can roll this wheelbarrow on the tightrope?” Some gasped, but many shouted, “Yes!” He did it with ease.
“Do you think I could do it again, with someone inside the wheelbarrow?” The crowd was enthusiastic now.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” they cried.
“Great!” he exclaimed. “Who wants to get in?” And nobody moved.
One night Jesus was walking on the water toward his disciples. His presence on the water frightened them thinking he was a ghost, but at the same time it was exhilarating. Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28). Jesus invited him to join him—to get into the wheelbarrow, saying, “Come!”
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (14:29–31)
Let’s not criticize Peter! He got out of the boat. He took the step of faith, even though fear took over. What will it take for us to do the same? Are you willing to accept Jesus’ invitation to get out of the boat (and into the wheelbarrow) and trust him to supply all that you need? Will you allow faith to overcome the fear of rejection, fear of a new experience, fear of a free fall if the witnessing experience doesn’t measure up? You can’t share Christ with someone until you realize it’s not up to you, but through the Holy Spirit, you are joining Jesus in his wheelbarrow.