I took my wife skydiving for her birthday this year. It was a risk. Not so much a risk of death — according to numbers from the National Safety Council, you are statistically more likely to die from a bee sting, lightning strike, or dog bite. It was risky because she didn’t necessarily want to go. In fact, she had informed me previously that at no point in her life did she ever feel the desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But I surprised her nonetheless, and to her credit, she participated fully in the experience.

So, why in the world would I undertake a venture that had a huge risk of blowing up in my face and jeopardizing my wife’s happiness on her birthday? Simple, I really thought that she would enjoy it if just given the chance. And, if I’m being honest, I really wanted to go as well and thought that this would be a good excuse for us to literally take the plunge together. Turns out I was right for a change.

We landed around 10:30 a.m. and what was amazing to me was her countenance for the remainder of the day following our adrenaline filled experience. On her birthday, my wife was simply happy and content. It didn’t matter where we went or what we did, she was glowing. It is the kind of contentment and appreciation for life that can only be found on the other side of taking a risk and achieving something that seemed incomprehensible to you before.

Let’s be honest, we live in a world of fear. We are told to fear many things in our lives. Media outlets thrive off of fear. When I was a kid, the unknown complexities of quicksand and the Bermuda Triangle kept me lying awake in bed at night. Because of the news, I honestly thought the rainforests would be a thing of the past before I graduated college. Next it was the threat of acid rain, destruction of the ozone layer and Y2K that would prove to be the end of civilization as we know it. Global warming and overpopulation are currently hot topics, both literally and figuratively, and the myriad of complexities that accompany them are nerve wracking to many.

Look, many of these are viable concerns, but the question I want to pose today is simple: Can we effectively live a satisfying life in the face of constant fear? As followers of Christ, we are to live in the hope of Christ, not the fear of death. The apostle, John, tells us that there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

When you live in the fear of death, you live for the moment with a focus on self-preservation at all costs. When you live for Jesus, you live with a focus on the Holy Spirit and a Kingdom purpose. Paul tells us in Romans 8 that through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death. We are free to live outside of the fear of death in our lives. We are free to follow where the Shepherd leads. We are free to live life to the fullest.

I can’t tell you exactly what that looks like for you. I believe that it means following Jesus in faith on this amazing journey called life. What it looks like is living each day with the contentment as though you just accomplished something you never thought possible. So go ahead, take the leap, see if God is faithful, and experience the beauty of life after the parachute opens.

Sidenote: In case you’re wondering the outcome of my decision, I’ll give it to you. We’re still married, and my wife will tell you that it was a God-thing, but her birthday this year was one of the best days of her life. Feel free to ask her about it next time you see her.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Rev. Scott Garman, pastor of Cedar Heights Brethren in Christ Church in Mill Hall.