Playing it Safe…Not My Style
I’m 48 years old. I’m just old enough to have wisdom about a few things I should and shouldn’t do, but not yet old enough to always follow my own wisdom. Recently I observed a characteristic in me that I hope is not permanent.
We recently moved to a downtown condo. I wrote about why we did that HERE. The condo sits on a hill, overlooking the river district of our community. We love the view, but it presents a problem on windy days. We have to weatherize our front porch every time we suspect a storm, turning over the furniture and making sure everything is secure.
On one recent night, Cheryl heard the wind picking up and asked if we should prepare the porch. That really meant I should get up and prepare the porch, but I love the gentle way she “suggests” such things. 
Getting up at 1:30 AM to step onto my front porch in my boxers has never been my idea of fun, but I do like a happy wife, so I headed out to do my job. When I got back into bed she thanked me to which I replied:
“Better safe than sorry.”
Instantly the thought occurred to me. I would have never used that phrase a few years ago. “Better safe than sorry” has never appealed to me before. Sounds like something my mother would have said to me. I like risk-taking. I embrace change. I run to things others say can’t be done or aren’t willing to try. I’ve made a commitment to walk by faith.
I’m scared of “better safe than sorry”. What happened to me? Am I that old?
Here’s my plan to counter my recent tendency to lean to the comfortable side of life:
I own a couple Groupons for skydiving. My oldest son and I have wanted to do this for several years. It’s a risk worth taking I think, especially in light of my recent playing it safe tendency.
I think very soon I’ll go jump out of a “perfectly good plane”.
I must. I can’t stand the thought of resting on the safe side.
What’s the purpose of this post? Well, if God is calling you to something bigger than your ability to understand…
Don’t play it safe! Play it by faith!
Be honest: Are you more likely to prefer a risk or the safe side?
