When you fly into Hawaii, make sure you have a window seat.  Pray that the clouds will part enough for you to get a glimpse of the picturesque Hawaiian mountains.  They are breathtaking to look at, and if your flight heads on the right path, you will get a bird’s eye view of the same mountains where the Jurassic Park movies were filmed. 

I didn’t get that window seat (thanks, oldest son!), but I did get an up close and personal look at those gorgeous Hawaiian mountains.  For two and a half hours to be exact!  That’s right, friends.  My family took a Jurassic Park tour in a jeep.  It was like we were in a different world.  And yes, they played the Jurassic Park theme song over the speakers for the entire ride.  I am pretty sure it haunted my dreams that night. 

I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Never before had I seen so much luscious green vegetation.  Our tour guide was amazing.  He knew all the spots where movie scenes were filmed.  As a matter of fact, over 200 movies have been filmed in that area!  We walked the hill that Chris Pratt ran down—15 times to be exact—to get the perfect shot of him eluding the dinosaurs in Jurassic World.  We saw the Jurassic Park log where the kids and the lead character hide behind to avoid the gallimimuses.  And, oh yes, we got a picture there! (see above)

My family watched Jurassic World upon returning from Hawaii last weekend.  We saw the enclosed computer room that overlooked the park—the same one we walked into.  We saw that hill that Chris Pratt ran down.  And we saw the scenic mountains in the video above.  It was quite surreal!  The climax of the movie came when Chris Pratt’s raptors were taking on the ginormous mutant T-Rex, but my favorite scene is when Chris Pratt sprints up to his raptors and silences them.

There they are.  Three ferocious, meat-eating raptors circle their prey: a poor fallen young man with a broken leg.  Panic rises everywhere!  It is a total freak out moment for everyone—except Chris Pratt.  Cool and in control, he opens the gate, sprinting into the arena.  He becomes a raptor whisperer, holding out his hands to halt the progress of the vicious creatures.  No fear whatsoever!  He is courageous.  In control.  He cooly calls for them to shut the gate and dives to safety.  And he has gone viral with a famous meme like the one below.

Fear.  We all have it.  There is nothing new there either.  People have always been fearful.  The Bible commands us to fear not an astounding 365 times.  Just an idea, but someone could profit off that with a little rip-off-the-page calendar.  One scripture for every day of the year!  What is your deepest fear?  It is probably not a velociraptor tearing up your flesh, but maybe it is losing a loved one.  Or cancer.  Or any one of the astounding fears listed below:

• Nomophobia: Fear of being without your mobile phone.  Yikes!
• Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.  I actually wouldn’t mind that.
• Plutophobia: Fear of money.  Anyone admit to having that one?
• Xanthophobia: Fear of the color yellow.  Sorry, Big Bird.
• Ephebiphobia: Fear of adolescents.  I admit to having that some days.
• Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons.  That’s just funny.  I saved my favorite for last …

Yeah, I actually got that from a sermon at my church.  Pastor Reggie has shown that meme twice over the last few years.  Credit goes to him!

There are so many Bible stories that come to mind when it comes to finding someone who scoffs in the face of danger.  So many definitions of courage!  None in my mind top the good old classic tale of David versus Goliath.  Are you kidding me?  The scrawny yet fearless shepherd boy takes out the trash-talking 9 ½ foot tall behemoth!  This is legendary.  Epic beyond belief.  And David owns the moment by beheading the giant with Goliath’s own sword.  Hey, why did they skip that part in the children’s Bibles I used to read to my boys?

Chris Pratt has NOTHING on David.

I have been fearful quite a few times in my life.  I still fear failure.  Because I was raised in a competitive family, I hate to lose.  I want to dominate.  And when I fall short, I am pretty hard on myself.  The oddest thing happened, however, when I sat in a meeting for an hour and ten minutes a few weeks ago.  I was being grilled by Human Resources over some crazy allegations against me.  You might think I was fearful of losing my job, but I wasn’t.  I can honestly say I went into that meeting as boldly as David faced Goliath. 

Well, maybe not that bold.  But I had the boldness of Chris Pratt versus the raptors.  For sure.

The cool thing was that as I answered machine gun fire question after question, I never felt fear.  Oh, I was angry.  Frustrated beyond belief.  Most certainly misunderstood and ticked off, but not fearful.  Not at all.  If I lost my job, who cares?  The Lord provides.  I knew I was innocent.  God knew my hands were clean.  He was in control, and I let Jesus take the steering wheel through that assault.  It was one of the best feelings ever.  A lot of those no fear lines were in my heart.  My favorite is my youngest son’s life verse …

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.  For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:9)

God was with me!  Through every question.  Through every insane allegation.  His Holy Spirit took over inside me as I deflected the blows coming at me.  HR was trying to trap me and get me to contradict myself, but the Lord’s words were my words.  He helped me fight that guy off till the bitter end.  And even though the meeting did not turn out in my favor, I never once turned my back.  I kept my chin held high and gave it all I had.  Much like the ending of Rocky I when Sylvester Stallone is beaten by Apollo Creed but still gets the moral victory of going the distance.

I went the distance.

What about you?  What is your greatest fear?  How do you plan on tackling it?  My suggestion is to do what I did.  Give it to God.  Let Him fight your battles.  Fully trust in the power of Jesus Christ, and you cannot go wrong.  Or as my oldest son’s life verse says …

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)