American Idol, we weren’t. But we had contestants (of sorts) and judges (once again – of sorts!), one guy on either side of the grandma (Steven, Randy and J-Lo needn’t schlep up to the unemployment line!); the supportive audience was there, too.
It was an area-wide Christian schools speech meet. Students, 1st-6th graders, gathered together to present their memorized poems, stories and Bible passages – with not much “glossophobia” in sight.
“Glossophobia” is the fear of public speaking (“glosso” = tongue and “phobia” = fear) and statistics say 3 out of 4 people suffer from it. In fact, some folks would rather die than have to speak in front of a group. Getting your mouth to work properly and intelligently while your knees knock in front of others is usually listed as the #1 fear. The malady can hold people back in their careers and can be seen as a social negative.
That’s not to say that several of the youngsters this morning didn’t suffer with nervous tummies or sweaty palms. In fact, a couple of them appearing before our judicial trio looked as if they’d rather have been back in their classroom taking a math test, getting a cavity filled at the dentist or just about anywhere at all rather than reciting an Aesop fable from memory in front of all those strangers.
But, you know – each one of the 13 3rd graders we had the privilege to hear spoke up, looked up and pushed right through those butterflies flying around their insides. Not a one gave up, even if a couple of the beginnings were a tad shaky. Each child learned that fear doesn’t have to be fearsome, that quitting is for quitters and super things can come from sticking to it.
John Wayne once quipped that “courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Congrats to those young ones today for “getting their saddle on” and showing some of us “old ones” just how to ride!
Psalm 31:24 “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
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