Most things die in a Comfort Zone…

It is so easy to live within the boundaries; within the guidelines; within our imaginary parameters. It is easy and comforting to live safely amongst those we know and who agree with us on almost everything. In fact in this day and age, that seems to be the norm; hang out with those who agree with us. I heard Condoleezza Rice, the former U.S. Secretary of State, say the other day, ‘When you surround yourself with people who say amen after everything you say, you must get up and find other people to associate with.’

Does this mean we should do away with our comfort zone? No. A comfort zone is where you feel the most comfortable; safe, even. Those who make you feel the safest, feel yourself and feel unabated are the ones who are most likely in your comfort zone. We all need our comfort zone. We all need that zone where we zone out all inhibitions, stress and faking it syndrome etc. The question is not that do we need this place, the question should be do we only choose to be in this place? Is it illegitimate to go out of your comfort zone? No! In fact you better get out of it if you will ever make a dent on this world.

I want to share something that happened to me a couple of days ago. I had gotten used to using my GPS while driving. The other day I had taken my son to a place across town. Of course my GPS was on. That steel voice attempts to tell me where to turn next. But wait a minute! I am familiar with this place! I already know of a particular route, and so though the GPS had given me a route that will take me 23 minutes, I decided to go after that familiar route. And so I went on this rabbit trail. The voice kept on telling me to turn left. I ignored it. I kept on going. And then it came to me. Why not follow its direction? And so I eventually did the next turn. By now my GPS was telling me I had added 20 more minutes to my journey. I then found that the very road it had asked me to turn into twenty minutes ago, was the one I eventually drove past. I would have saved myself time, but I decided to follow the familiar. How many times do you do that?

Another term for familiar is comfort zone. The other day my son said something that struck me, ‘Nothing of worth will ever grow in your comfort zone, mom.’ This is true. As great as the familiar is; time has proven that a comfort zone is really a grave for great ideas.

Can you imagine Jesus staying in His comfort zone? Where will you and I be? Earth was so unfamiliar with its sin and carnage that He asked God at one point to take this cup away. And yet if He had stayed in His comfort zone, we could never have become ‘good soil’. Nothing of worth would have come of our faith. Yes, because we cannot be holy based on our own convolutions. And so if you are one of those who loves hearing amen at every turn, who fears keeping company with those that do not think like you do; who always wants a safety net – ask yourself this one question: Do I want to make a mark during my lifetime? If the answer is yes, you have to step out. If no, what a waste that will be since we all have so much to give someone else! Take a hike! Set up a charity! Write a book! Start a business. Take care of the poor and needy. Visit people of other faihhs and try to understand their humanity. Just don’t shut everything you do not understand out the door!

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.