Unsecure, Unsure, but No reserves, and No regrets.
We are taught to live safe lives. Teachers and parents alike give us guidelines to follow. If you go outside of those bounds, you are potentially in danger. But there is a point when we realize that living this "safe life" only leads to regrets. The "safe life" becomes a selfish one. We are so focused on keeping ourselves away from danger that we turn our faces away when others are in pain. We don't want their hurt to break through these walls we've built up and rub off on us.
Jesus never promised safety to those that he called to follow him. If we really look back at the reality of what became of Jesus' disciples, we'll find that they didn't all die peaceful deaths.
Peter was crucified on a cross upside down.
The Apostle Paul was beheaded.
Doubting Thomas was tortured, run through with spears, and thrown into a flaming oven.
The dangers we fear in living an "unsafe" life in today's world isn't necessarily death. Actually death probably hasn't even crossed our mind as a consequence if we live in modern day America. Our fears are mainly what others will think, that our families will shun us, and ultimately we will be left on our own.
God calls us to do things that are unsafe. It's as simple as that. It's not because he wants us to fall on the pavement and scrape our knees. And he doesn't necessarily want us to die as a martyr for our faith. He wants his power to be shown in us and through us. He wants to see us grow in our faith and learn to trust him more. It's the "unsafe" tasks that make a difference in this world.
Many would say that going on the World Race is dangerous. Traveling around the world with just a backpack. Staying with strangers. Helping people I've never met. Working in the Red Light District. Dangerous. Dangerous to "me." But in the overall perspective, it's bringing life and hope to so many others.
So if that's what it takes, this is how I want to live my life. I want to live my life UNSAFE if it means bringing safety to those hurting around me. I want to live my life UNSURE of what tomorrow may hold. I want to live my life with NO RESERVES knowing that I held no ounce of me back. And ultimately I want to live my life with NO REGRETS knowing I did everything I could to make a difference in this world. I want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." – 1 Peter 4:16
