Old Dog - New Tricks
(A Testimony of Doing It Scared)
There’s a saying we all know: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But I’ve found that ministry, motherhood, and seminary have all proven the opposite. In fact, most of my growth has come from stepping into roles I never thought I could fill and learning skills I never imagined I’d need. Not because I was ready. Not because I was confident. But because I was willing to do it scared.
This post was originally part of my Senior Chapel Service at Saint Paul School of Theology. Here’s a video of the original talk and my dulcimer performance from that day.
Link to Senior Chapel Video (skip to min 32 if you want to only watch my part)
Seminary has taught me many things, but above all, it has taught me confidence, not from a degree or a GPA, but through my identity as a daughter of God and a follower of the only man I give primary authority over my life: Jesus Christ. It is in these identities that I stand, supported by the presence of the Holy Spirit, who helps guide my priorities and decisions.
This sense of security, this grounding in Christ, has been more than enough to get me where I need to be. But that doesn’t mean I always feel confident once I get there. Most days, I still find myself in over my head. Still nervous. Still unsure. Still lacking. So yes, I rely on the gospel.
But I also rely on the words of TikTok influencer Elise Myers:
“Do it scared.”
When I don’t know how to stand up and preach about God’s love on the same day as a mass shooting,
do it scared.
When I don’t know how to lead a church that wants to leave the denomination I love, over decisions I didn’t make but do rejoice in,
do it scared.
When I felt called to seminary but had three small children, unresolved trauma from my undergrad years, and no idea how I’d manage a massive life shift,
do it scared.
When I decided to do it scared, that’s when I started living more fully into the good news of Christ’s resurrection and the embodied power of the Incarnation. That’s when I began to believe that God doesn’t call the equipped. God equips the called.
And now? When my congregants are scared to try something new,
we just do it scared, together. Even if we’re nervous.
Even if we don’t know what we’re doing.
We just try.
And yes, sometimes this looks like an old dog learning new tricks.
I wanted to share with you one embodied manifestation of me doing it scared.
I am not musically talented.
My mom, lovingly but honestly, once told me I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.
When people clap along to a song, I can never find the beat.
I don’t have a background in music. I don’t naturally gravitate toward it.
But how on earth can I ask my congregations to sing boldly in worship,
to share their gifts out loud,
to try something new in public,
if I’m not willing to stretch and develop those parts of myself?
So this year, as a New Year’s resolution, I decided to learn to play an instrument.
I chose the mountain dulcimer. Here is a photo of my daughter and I in a jam session.
And today, I’m offering you my less-than-talented musical gospel manifestation.
Just me, doing it scared.
Just me, playing a few selections on an instrument I’ve been slowly and clumsily teaching myself.
It’s awkward and unpolished, but it’s honest. It’s faithful. And it’s mine to offer. I hope it encourages you to develop the parts of yourself you may not admire, or may even avoid. Especially the parts that your friends or your community might need from you.
So whatever it is you feel called to,
whatever is sitting on your heart,
even if it feels too big or too loud or too scary,
do it scared.
Old Dogs can learn New Tricks.
