Blading Down the Devil's Backbone

Most people don't know this, but I was almost a professional inline skater.

The year was 1993.

A ten-year-old version of me watched the movie Airborne.

It's about a teen who loved to surf and roller blade. But his parents' work took them away from their home and sent him packing to Cincinnati to live with his cousin. He is misunderstood and finds himself on the bad side of a hockey team. Of course, the plot thickens. He falls in love with the bad guy's sister. And, eventually finds himself in the middle of a turf war between the preps and this hockey team, which resulted in him roller blading down the Devil's Backbone.

If you haven't seen the movie, don't hate.

You have no clue what it would be like to race down the Devil's Backbone in a winner takes all bragging rights competition.

This movie was packed with stars before they were stars. Jack Black and Seth Green provided comic relief for this seriously intense flick.

The movie almost changed my life.

After seeing the movie, I knew the totality of my destiny. It included four wheels in a line.

My parents confirmed this calling when they bought me a pair of roller blades and safety gear for Christmas. All I needed now was a little practice.

We lived in the parsonage by the church that my dad pastored.

Any adrenline junkie who gets their fix on extreme sports knows that church properties are full of freestyle obstacles. Churches are the holy grail for BMX bikers, skate boarders, and roller bladers.

I bladed down to the church. (Because that's what roller bladers do, they blade.)

I had the skates, safety gear, rails, stairs, and drop-offs that were going to launch me into awesomedom.

However, those became my Devil's Backbone.

When the time came for me to rail slide or to practice my hand plants something else came into play.

Fear!

I was afraid of getting hurt.

You see the tag team known as concrete and gravity are a fearsome duo.

My unscratched wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, and helmet all mocked me. They are still in mint condition.

It wasn't long before I gave up on my dream of being a professional in-line skater. It was a long blade back up the hill to my house.

Although, I blame my lackluster career on ESPN for not coming out with the X-Games two years sooner. (I only needed one more push.)

The inspiration, resources, and the passion for greatness were there. But none of that mattered because I was too afraid of getting hurt. The ten-year-old me failed to truly try.

How many times have you not tried something for fear of being hurt, rejected, or the cost?

You had all the passion, but you didn't go all in.

You were too fearful.

Throughout scripture God commands his people to be strong and courageous.

That doesn't mean you won't experience doubts or nervousness. That just means you move forward in faith anyways.

Don't allow fear to dictate your actions, rather be driven by faith. Be strong and courageous!

It's Monday and there isn't a better day of the week to try to do something that you've been too afraid to do. (Unless you're reading this on another day of the week, in that case today is the best day.)

What are you to afraid to try?