Risk Assessment

When I was growing up we raised Arabian horses and broke them for riding. Actually, I use "we" very loosely. My dad did all the work.

When I was little he would sometimes set me on the back of a young horse before it was ready to bear the weight of an adult. The colts and fillies had to gradually adjust to having something on their back. First a blanket, then a saddle, then me. Some horses were scared by the feeling of having something on their back. Some of them were just plain angry.

I vividly remember one horse. Her name was "Lacey". She was skittish. Daddy worked for weeks just to get her to accept the blanket on her back. Finally the day came that he judged her to be ready for me. He gingerly put me on her back. He had one hand on Lacey's halter and the other on me. The horse startled and took one long sideways leap about 10 feet across the corral, taking both me and my dad with her. A moment later, as we blinked in stunned surprise at suddenly finding ourselves on the opposite side of the enclosure, we both burst out laughing.

I wasn't really scared, even though we really could have been badly injured by that crazy horse. I think the reason was that my dad had a tight grip on me throughout the entire flight.

Choosing to love is like riding on the back of that crazy horse. I might get thrown off. I could even get seriously injured. However, I believe that Jesus was the one who put me here and he still has a tight hold on me. Wherever I go, He will still be right there with me.

Jesus never sat down with his disciples and said, "Now listen, you guys be careful out there. Otherwise you could get hurt..." Actually he did the very opposite. He promised them that if they were following Him, they would get hurt. And, He promised them that He would be with them in it.

Loving deeply is a very dangerous thing to do. It is going to hurt. Sometimes it is going to hurt a lot.
We should be wise and thoughtful about our choices; what we choose to do, who we choose to love. Goggles and safety helmets definitely have their place. I think a person should pray constantly and be sure of what God is calling them to do.

After that, it is time to let Him lift you onto the back of that horse and hold on.

This post was also published on http://thosewhosee.com/

A Spirit of Fear

My husband's company requires a safety talk at the beginning of every meeting. They talk about why people should never stand on chairs to reach things and why they should always wear safety goggles. Honestly, sometimes I am surprised that those accountants and engineers don't sit pecking at their computers wearing helmets and safety goggles. I suppose that the company is trying to cut workman's compensation expenses, but the extreme emphasis on safety annoys me. I'm not even the one who has to listen to the talks!

I think that people are too fearful and too careful already. Sometimes I want to bust out and do something dangerous.

I watched this "balance beam" video clip by Francis Chan this morning. It is worth watching.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_uwWPE6lQ

The temptation to just hold on tight until I reach the end of life is strong. But, I think Mr. Chan has a point. I doubt God is going to be greeting me with an enthusiastic "well-done!" if all I do is hang on tight and stay safe until life is over.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7