Giants

Giants. We all have them. They come from gossip, labels, experiences.

They come from fears.

Each of us has our own giants. We’re all afraid of something. Sure, you can be afraid of spiders, millipedes, birds, or whatever. But those aren’t giants. Giants are the fears that reside deep within us. The fears that hold us back or push us to do something we aren’t comfortable with.

All too often, giants are relational fears. I would go so far as to say 99% of giants are in some way related to, well, relationships. Because to be human is to be relational. I could live alone on the most secluded mountain in the world, and I would still have relationships. Being in relationship is part of our make-up. We can’t escape it.

And you know what else is with me on that secluded mountain? My giants. There’s a reason I’m alone, secluded. I’m afraid of something: letting others down, getting hurt, etc. Whatever it is, it’s a relational giant.

All of our worst giants include ourselves with other people. And these giants build walls around our hearts. Big, thick, sturdy walls. And we let them, because what the giants tell us make sense: the walls will keep us safe. And they’re right; those walls will keep us safe. But those walls will also keep us prisoner.

The giants don’t build gates into the walls–they’re just solid circles of the hardest stone. So while those walls keep us safe, they also keep us trapped within our own fears.

Everyone has giants. Mine? I’m terrified of ending up alone, losing everyone I love. At one time, this giant kept me from getting close to anyone. Sure, it kept me safe, but I still felt alone. Exactly what I was afraid of and didn’t want to happen. I was too afraid to speak up for myself and let others know who I was. I was too afraid to tear down that wall.

I was afraid to become a giant killer.

A few weekends ago, I attended Taylor University’s Professional Writing Conference. Jim Watkins gave a keynote session that addressed this very issue: I am a Giant Killer.

And Jim Watkins is right: We all need to become giant killers. We need to stand up to the fears holding us back, whatever area of our lives the giants hold on to. We need to take those areas back for ourselves. This can be anything: a career, a job, a hobby, a relationship, or even a personal confession.

We may never be fully rid of these fears even if we do kill these giants. But if we acknowledge that they’re there it can do a world of good. If we can acknowledge our own deep fears, we’ve already made a huge step in the right direction. Because while we may never be able to fully eradicate those fears, if we know what they are we have more power to combat them and move forward in our lives. We’re no longer held captive by them.

This theme runs through our world: our arts, books, conversations, music, TV, stories, paintings, movies. They all ask the same question: What are you afraid of?

So don’t be afraid to be a giant killer. Dare to discover who you truly are at your core–the you without fear.

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