Jon Jorgenson

We have all seen dance teams display their stunning stunts and outstanding flexibility on courts. They practice their routines and always shock the crowd with their talent. But this group brought everything to a new level.

The team from Mahomet-Seymour High School defied school norms. Instead of using typical musical soundtracks for their routine, they used Jon Jorgensen’s poem entitled, “What Are You Afraid Of?

The question “What does fear have?” is repeatedly said in the poem, indicating and emphasizing various types of fears faced by a person. It tackles the vulnerable issues of insecurity, preoccupation with society’s expectations and the pain of failing to meet them.

The first part of the poem states:

“I used to be afraid of tomorrow, afraid that who I was would continually dictate who I am and that who I would be would be might be someone who I didn’t like very much at all- as if that there was no such thing as being made new.
I used to be afraid of opinions – afraid that words would not break my bones they certainly would shatter my dreams. As if I started doing this for the approval of many rather than the glory of One.

I used to be afraid of failure, afraid of losing, afraid of falling, afraid of being wrong, creating buzz and looking absolutely stupid because who am I to even try and make a difference?

As if those setbacks or anything more than the laying down of stepping stones on the road to success.

I used to be afraid. I used to…”

In the middle of their performance, the black leotards turned into white, flowing dresses. It is said that it symbolizes letting go of your fears and insecurity; it symbolizes change within yourself.

The second part of the poem states:

But then I did a little research. And by that I mean – I researched and I researched and I researched over and over again. And through all my researching I keep coming up with the same exact question.

“What room does fear have?”

What room does fear have when I cling to trust? What room does fear have when I lean on hope? What room does fear have when I search for something more, when I realized what’s good and when I stand in awe, when I run with perseverance, when I walk by faith and when I rest in comfort.

What room does fear have when I sing with praise? When I take hold of inspiration, explore the possibilities and step in to freedom? What room does fear have when I discover strength, embrace courage, remember peace, declare truth, choose joy, experience life and conquer death?

What room does fear have when I find perfection in the one place I never thought to look, in weakness. When I’m saved by the most unlikely of heroes, by grace. When I’m invited into a relationship more loving and intimate than I could ever imagine: as a child of God.

I’ll ask you again, what room does fear have when I step out of the darkness and I bask in the light. When I let the past be the past and the future has no limit, when they can talk all they want but their opinion doesn’t matter, and when failure is nothing more and nothing less than the road by which I walk my path to success. I’ll ask you one last time – what room does fear have when in His Word He tells me 365 times, – depending on the translation – DO NOT BE AFRAID! As if I needed to hear that every single day. And as if that’s how many times I needed to hear it before I finally believe. What Are You Afraid Of?

This article is compiled by Le-Jovale Vallejo.