Risk

I've been reminded again of how fragile life is and how unexpectedly short it can be.  To paraphrase John 10:10, we have been given the gift of life so that we may live it to the full. There is such beauty in a life that has been lived to its fullest, where every moment has been taken advantage of.  It's rewarding not only the individual but to all those who are in turn truly blessed by that life.

Here is one of my favourite poems that conveys this idea well; It's inspired me over the last number of years and in the last few weeks I've been able to share it with  some of the youth when I've led reflections.

To laugh is too risk appearing the fool

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental

To reach out for another is to risk involvement

To expose feelings is to risk exposing ones true self

To love is to risk not being loved in return

To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk loss

To try is to risk failure

To hope is to risk despair

To live is to risk dying

But risk we must because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing

The person who risks nothing, has nothing, is nothing 

-Author Unknown