Crossing the Chicken Line!

We lost Don on the way in to Pappadeaux in Cincinnati. We were ready to enjoy a long overdue dinner, catch up on life and savor  some great Cajun food that night. I asked Mirna, "Where is Don?" She explained that he sometimes meets people and starts talking about Jesus to them. And she said, "I do it all the time too!"

I looked out the window and sure enough Don was talking to a huge motorcycle guy in the parking lot. It looked like David and Goliath from the bible story only friendly! In a few minutes they finished talking and Don came in to the table and started dipping in to the crispy fried shrimp, calamari and fish bites on the appetizer plate.

I asked him if he knew the guy he was talking to. He said "No, I just had to cross the chicken line and ask if he knew Jesus and wanted a bible?"

The "chicken line." He had me...  What is the chicken line? This is a seafood place for Pete's sake! I wondered if there was another restaurant close by. So I had to ask, "Don, what is the chicken line?"

With Mirna watching and smiling with love and delight Don shared how that when he needed  courage to do something (like start a conversation with a stranger about Jesus) he gets it by drawing an imaginary line, a "chicken line". Then he said, "You step over it and you aren't "chicken" any more!"

                                                       I got it! I want it! I neeeeed it!

How many times do I want 1 second of courage, just 1, to say or do something I really want to or need to do? Often!

The chicken line helps. I can draw the line, step over and boom; the conversation is stared, the deed set in motion or the problem begins to be resolved. Go figure, the chicken line can help! Silly? Perhaps. Useful? Yes.

So to those who are courageous spiritual giants and have all the hutzpah you need, I salute you! When I grow up I want to be like you. Someday...until then I got me a chicken line!

Isn't a comfort zone an easy place to live where all is familiar and all is safe. To enter the unknown, break the ice with a stranger, start anew in a pursuit, confront an injustice or just step one more step into the future, might take more courage that you feel you have.

                 You do have amazing courage. Welcome to the chicken line...draw it and GO!

Thanks Don for mentoring me that day with the little ol' Chicken Line! Hey, we are crossing it today, together my friend!