I think my early years and most of young adult life I chose to believe that safer was better. I’m not sure if that is true now. In fact I will be brave enough to say it’s not true and was probably never true. Why play things safe? In sports I tried to push for the extra base or run the court just a little harder to get that extra added something. If there was a position that needed to be filled on a softball team I would volunteer not having played that spot before. Now I was taking a risk because if I couldn’t perform then I would look bad and have my ego tank. I was willing to take the risk.

It’s a totally different story as it related to my peers. I was faced with many decisions. Pretty much the same as everyone else is or has faced. How should I dress? How should I accept others? How do I speak? What is the content of my speaking? Is it clean or is it dirty? I love joking around. Is the joking good or vulgar? If I play it safe I will find myself not doing the right thing. If I take a risk then I will find myself standing out and alone because it is not the conventional thing to do. Playing it safe makes me feel more secure and comfortable. I can sit back and observe.

I’ve watched the last four seasons of American Idol. When it comes down to the heart of the completion I hear a common phrase from Randy, Paula and yes Simon. The phrase is “You played it safe.” The American Idol hopefuls are told many times over if you want to win you must be willing to take risks. It’s not about oh my momma loved this song or it was a song I fell in love with as a child. If this were me (I know it’s not) I would say forget all that cutesy stuff and start making my move. I can’t afford for some fond memory to determine my next step. I can’t play it safe.

Here lately I’ve realized that I’ve probably taken some risks without realizing it. Planting a church is a huge risk. It risks my self-esteem, my finances, my family’s time and even my family’s future. I’m reminded that Jesus said “That if I want to save my life I will lose. If I want to lose my life then I will find it” (Luke 17:33). If I play it safe I will stunt the ability to complete my purpose. If I go all out and forget about fitting into a mold then I will expand my life further than what I can imagine. Jesus says that he is the door to this life.

Now I see I’m taking great risks planting a church and being a follower of Jesus. I’m not following the popular lifestyles we see in our everyday media. I’m not following the typical blueprint of doing church. Though I hope I continue to do the right things.
How will these risks affect my family?
Will JaNonda continue to trust me?
What about Justin and Jarred?
Will they understand risks are good? Or will they feel the opposite?
Will they learn life will be tough while taking risks? Then totally fear of taking their risks. Perhaps they will understand that it is worth the risk. I must have faith that the Door I’m in charge of leading them too will show that risks are good! -chuck