Was Lakestyle meant to be? I may never have a definitive answer to that question,but I never worry about it anymore. For me it has been answered. I have had the great pleasure of reading a book recently that solidly answered that question; the answer was a resounding yes! If I had let my fears get in the way I may never have realized this dream, a dream that was meant to be.

The book I read is called "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat" by John Ortberg. It is an appropriate title for someone like me,someone who loves the water, but is sometimes afraid to venture from my place of safety. It addresses,in depth, so many of the reasons we are afraid to pursue our dreams. Our society constantly sends us messages to avoid risk taking. I'm not talking about stupidity, or reckless behavior. I'm talking about doing the things we want to do even if we are a little afraid about the outcome.

In addition to Ortberg's book I have also recently read a book by Marlo Thomas called "The Right Words At The Right Time." It is a compilation of stories by famous people reflecting on influential words that have changed the course of their lives. It didn't take me long to figure out what words were spoken to me at the right time in my life to change the path I was headed down. Those words tied right into the message from Ortberg's book.

Some years before Lakestyle began my life was fine; in fact it was really good. But I had a choice to make and fear of making the wrong choice had frozen me into indecision. The choice was between having more children or pursuing my career. I was so afraid of making the decision, afraid that either way I would have regrets. Fortunately a wonderful friend of mine, Marge Grahn Bowman, shared her wisdom with me. She looked at me in a very matter of fact manner and said, "Nancy, can't you have both? Why don't you just take your fears and tuck them in your back pocket and go ahead and follow your dreams?" Those were the right words at the right time for me.

I know it seems so simple, but it hadn't seemed simple until that point. In fact it had sounded impossibly overwhelming until she spoke those words. I didn't know how to get rid of all my fears, how to sort out all of the potential problems I might face. What I didn't realize was that I could set those possibilities aside until they became realities. I could cross those bridges when I came to them. The visualization of me taking my fears and tucking them in my back pocket was just what I needed. She didn't tell me to abandon my fears; she didn't tell me they were silly. She just told me to set my fears aside for a time. I could have more children and a career. I could have ups and downs. I could have fear and courage. I could be afraid and still chase my dreams. What has ensued has been the greatest rollercoaster ride I have ever been on (and with four young children in my life I have been on a lot of rollercoasters!).

That is exactly what John Ortberg encourages his reader to do too; tuck away those fears that stand between us and our dreams. We have all been given gifts and our job is to use those gifts. We may not be called to be religious leaders or missionary workers, but we are called to be something. It is our job to trust that if we pursue our dreams and callings, things will work out. Even to fail at trying to reach those dreams is better than not trying at all. It just means that you need to get up and try again (okay you may want to try a new tactic too, but you get the idea). Some questions from his book that I found interesting are ones to ask yourself: "What do I enjoy doing for its own sake? What do I avoid doing? Why? For what do I wish to be remembered? How might the offer of money or promotion sidetrack me from my true calling? What would my life look like it if turned out well?" These are thought provoking questions at the very least.

He tells a story of a child standing on the edge of a pool, her father is in the water with arms wide open to catch her. He is encouraging her "Jump! Don't be afraid. You can trust me." Of course we all know what is going on inside of the little girl, a conflict between being afraid of something bad happening and the idea that someone she trusts is confident about the outcome. We all have this battle going on within us about various things in our lives. "Trust says, JUMP! Fear says, NO!" Either choice the child makes will impact her future decisions.

Children need our encouragement to take risks early on in their lives. Even if it doesn't work out perfectly they will feel good about having tried. My friend's words come back to me often as I parent my own children. The night before school starts, the day before camp, just before a tryout, I find myself telling them to tuck their fears in their back pocket and try anyway.

As adults we will feel good about trying things too. Ortberg goes on to say, "When you take on a challenge, it builds the core of who you are, even if you don't perform flawlessly." In fact, Herman Melville said, "Failure is the test of greatness." Know that you will sometimes fail, and more importantly know that sometimes you won't. Hang on to the hope that those times are out there waiting for you.

It isn't only the fun of working here at Lakestyle that makes me glad I took the risk. It is the courage I now feel from having taken a huge risk. It's not whether the magazine is the homerun of the century or not, it's that this was our dream and we went for it.

I hope the message I have sent to my children is to go out into this world and pursue the things they want to pursue. I hope when they are faced with the daily battle of whether to trust and jump,or to be afraid and say no, that they will trust. I hope that they know that even when they are afraid they can tuck away their fears for a little while and go for it.

And as for me...now that I have gotten out of the boat, I hope I can take steps toward walking on water. I know I can't attain perfection; I also know I don't need to let my fears get in the way of trying new things. I will continue to strive to deliver a magazine that our readers want, to create the magazine that we here at Lakestyle have dreamed about. Please feel free to let me know what you'd like to see in the magazine in the future.

Celebrating Life on the Water,

Nancy Henke, Editor 

By Nancy Henke