“When you have come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught to fly.”
That terrifying edge where you can't see what's next? You'll either find ground or find wings. Either way, you won't fall. Trust that.
Have you ever stood at the very edge of a major life change, feeling that dizzying sensation of looking into a void? Patrick Overton’s beautiful words remind us that the darkness of the unknown isn't necessarily a place of falling, but a place of transformation. To me, this quote captures the essence of faith perfectly. It suggests that the universe isn't trying to let us fail, but rather waiting to see if we will rely on the ground beneath us or discover the strength of our own wings. It is about trusting the process even when your eyes can no longer see the path ahead.
In our everyday lives, this edge often shows up in much quieter, more relatable ways. It might be the moment you decide to leave a job that no longer fulfills you, or the terrifying first day of a new relationship, or even just the decision to finally pursue a hobby you've been too scared to try. We often spend so much energy trying to build bridges to the unknown so we don't have to step off the edge, but sometimes, the bridge only appears once we've actually taken the leap. The fear of the fall is usually much heavier than the actual experience of flying.
I remember a time when I felt quite lost, much like a little duckling unsure of its first swim. I had decided to change my entire career path, leaving behind the safety of a predictable routine for something much more uncertain. I spent many nights staring at the ceiling, terrified that I was stepping into a dark abyss where nothing would catch me. I felt like I was losing my footing entirely. But as I leaned into that uncertainty and started taking small, messy steps, I realized that the 'darkness' was actually just a space for growth. I didn't find a solid platform immediately, but I did find a new kind of resilience that I never would have discovered if I had stayed in the light of my old life.
As you navigate your own moments of uncertainty, I want to encourage you to breathe through the fear. If you find yourself standing at the edge today, try not to focus solely on the height of the drop. Instead, try to focus on the possibility of the flight. Whether you land on something solid or find your wings, you are going to learn something profound about yourself. Take a moment today to reflect on a fear you've been holding onto, and ask yourself: what if this leap is exactly what I need to learn how to fly?