Avoiding the Unknown

A pocket hole jig is a tool that is used to bore a hole sideways at a very shallow angle into a wooden board. This allows screws to be recessed, and boards can be secured to each other in such a way that the screws are invisible on the outside. (If you’re having a hard time imagining this, you can see an image of the process here.)  

Creating pocket holes is rather easy. This is what I discovered when I took the time to set up my jig last weekend. Before that, it sat on a shelf for months. I avoided getting started on building some drawers because learning how to use the jig occurred to me as a difficult step. It wasn’t hard in itself, but since it was unknown, there were countless times that I chose to work on another project instead. Once I took the time to actually learn how to use the jig, I was tickled by how long I had avoided it. 

This experience illustrates a larger pattern. Frequently we avoid something not because it is difficult but because it is unknown. When we relate to something this way, we inflate how much effort and time it will take. This week I invite you to ask:

What are the things that I am avoiding right now? Am I avoiding them because I fear the unknown? What if they turned out to be significantly easier than I expected them to be? Which one of these things will I tackle this week? 

God Bless,
Dan