My husband George retired not long ago. I am a writer, but I have slowed down the pace of putting pencil to paper, and we are no longer raising children. So, what to do with ourselves? We do our share of volunteer work, church work, yard work. And though we've never been golf people, we do like to travel and see stuff. We have both worked very hard for some 45 years and this should be the time for a quieter life. So, why are we risking that leisure for an eighteen month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The apparent answer is that we love the Lord and have testimonies of the bright message of the gospel. We want to share that truth with others. But, to be honest, it's a bit scary. Change is scary. It's a risk.
When I went off to college, my mom gave me this "thought for the day." I have used it many times in my life and now I wish to share it with you.
RISK
To laugh is to 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 your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
BUT, risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who RISKS is free.
Life is an adventure. Take a step into the unknown. Risk.
1 comment:
Placing yourself in the hands of the Lord should never be considered a risk, so I'm surprised so many people decide they know better than the Lord what they should do with their lives - safely. You will never be sorry for doing this - it was truly the greatest adventure of our lives when we went to Armenia! I wish for you the same wonderful kind of mission that we had!
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