Risk
Under what circumstances are you willing to risk? What does it take for you to let go of everything to pursue a greater joy? A larger dream? A grander desire?I feel like I am risking a lot in my life right now and some of it always boils down to money but is everything important to me related to money? In the realm of my life, work, and dreams so many things matter deeply to my heart. Yet they matter for strange reasons. Example: it matters to me that I feel I am contributing to something. I could have a job paying $65,000/year. Perhaps the job is repetitious or something though... It seems like I am doing the same thing everyday and I am interacting with a bunch of computers and memos-- I would hate that job. And I bet many of you can relate to that feeling, however when you launch out in a venture that says "this matters" things change. Let's say "this" is equal to my value for contribution. Well if contribution matters to me, I must find a place and people that will let me contribute. In my story any place that allows me to contribute also hands over a great about of weight and responsibility. In essence they are saying "Here is a slice to contribute to and that means something to us." So the place they are giving me in the company or organization has value to other employees, owners, and organization members. Many times that becomes quite weighty. The end result is that I have taken several risks in the process of saying to myself "this matters" and then living that out.
The first risk I took was listing to my heart and desire. Second, I needed to leave the place (job/status/comfort) I was in and move to a new place where I can make my contribution. Thirdly, the contribution requires something of me. There is a point at which I decide that was is required of me is worth the risk and the joy of contribution. When I have started venturing out on these risking things life's challenges start to grow large and daunting. The pain and growth I experience through those time is amazing but even more amazing is a thought: is our whole world based on risk? Is God trying desperately to give us opportunity to lay it all down for greater things. Jesus is know quite well as he highlights two worlds in His stories and teachings. In Matthew 16:26 Jesus asks, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" We could process this many ways but my question is which path are you on?
Which path are you on? Are you gaining the whole world? No, me neither but I think the lynch pin is the idea that the opposite of risk is holding on to the world that is yours as hard as you can. Thus, letting go of the world is risking?And how does that gain your soul?
What does it mean to risk?
And what part of your world that is meaningful to you are you currently letting go of to risk?
Will you ponder with me?
posted by Simon Yost @ 4:51 PM
2 Comments:
Hey Simon, sorry it took me so long to read your blog things have been getting crazy around here. I never really got a chance to talk to you that much on Sat. night when you were over for dinner sorry it seems like we both had stuff going on. I totally agree with what you're saying about risk...I mean it is a thing that takes something simple (if you choose to just live the day out) and changes it into a measuring stick for how much balls a guys got. Maybe thats not the best way of putting it, but my point is that when you have Christ on your side you arn't afraid to nut up and risk some things that normal humans would never think of. This is great and all but at the same time when you are living for Christ I feel like you have so much more to risk than the average person. I to have also been thinking about risks and what I want to do with my life. College is right around the corner and thats when you ahve to start thinking about what you want to do with your life and how you want to serve the Lord. In basketball I went to talk to my coach and he gave me an article to read about failure and risk. One quote in it was, "When you're not afraid to fail, your chances of succedding improve." He was trying to tell me to not fear taking an open shot but to take the risk and let my talents do the rest. I think in your case it is the same way. Don't ever concentrate on failing...keep your eyes locked on success and your goals... and let your talents (leadership, computers, desiign, faith) do the rest for you. I feel like God will bless you if you keep trying... I hope that your meeting went well that you e-mailed me about! Later Simon!
Sometimes you need the money to make a difference. So your job may not make much of a difference, but you could put your money and time to good use outside of your job through volunteering and community outreach events.
Your job doesn't always make you who you are - it's your time outside of your job that is what others look at.
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