The other day I was watching a hockey game with my son, who is six. I asked him, "Do you want to play hockey some day?" He said, "No...that doesn't look very safe."
Aside from being pretty funny, I told him that he's a kid - he's not supposed to be worried about what's safe. He's supposed to be worried about what's fun. But it got me thinking about how we adults often act this way in life. Especially those of us who are Jesus followers...how often do we avoid taking risks in ministry because "it doesn't look safe". I don't mean safe just like in avoiding bodily harm (though that too), but more in terms of not moving out of our comfort zone, not making the extra effort, not going beyond what we are used to. Just...playing it safe.
Here's the reality: over the course of history, very few things have been accomplished by playing it safe. How much life do you miss by playing it safe? How many of the opportunities God gives you do you neglect because you're playing it safe?
I hope my son plays hockey some day (or football, or guitar, or...whatever). But more than that, I hope he doesn't avoid taking risks for the sake of God's kingdom. For that matter, I hope I (and you) don't either.
