Risk

I used to be insulted when people called me a risk taker and I always rose to the challenge denying that I am risk taker because I always felt that it was said in a derrogatory manner, that those that said it meant to insult me or make me out to be a thrill seeker or irresponsible. I have never been a thrill seeker, I am not an adrenalin junky, I hate fair ground rides and I will never sky dive. These things for me are silly reasons to take risks, just for fun or sport. I often wondered if those that called me a risk taker were belittling because actually they didn't have the courage to take the same paths, of course, maybe they didn't want to but we are contrary creatures and even if I don't want to do something for myself does'nt always stop me from being jealous that someone else is doing it.

Reflecting on this label as a risk taker more recently, having been living in an environment that does have inherent risks that some people who are generally courageous livers don't even take, I have become more comfortable with the title. Someone pointed out to me that I come from a family that is not shy of risks, that does not look to take the easy path in life, nor does it get dealt the easy hand either. I have a family environment that has faith in things that are worth dying for and lives with open truth and acknowledges that we may die doing what we believe in. We do not seek death, nor do we take unnecessary risks for the thrill of it, but we accept certain risks for the Good of what we believe in and the good we can provide for people.

I don't take risks irresponsibly, but I do take risks. Part of what I have learnt here is about considering risks, weighing up the possibilities of incidents and learning to trust that sense that tells you something you cannot define (instinct I suppose). Then there is the faith aspect, I have faith, I step out in faith and that does not mean that everything will end happily, faith is not a guarantee of that by any means, but I have seen evidence that to step out in faith and take risks provides opportunities to see great new depths and lengths of things, people, places, life, love, tragedy and of course faith. It is one of those paradoxes in life - if you step out in faith your faith grows because you see the extent to which it expands and supports you, but if you never step out then it never increases but you have to have a certain amount before you step out in the first place.