Lights! Camera! Risk!  Are You a Risk-Taker?

A young man was a action movie fanatic.  If there is a movie with cars and buildings that explode, foot chases and fight scenes, this young man is guarunteed to see the movie on opening day.  In fact, his entire life had been re-organized around this phenomenon known as the action movie.  And since he was rather athletic, he would often try different stunts on his own.  The problem was, he never liked to watch the “behind the scenes” so in his mind, what he saw as a finished project on screen was reality.  If it looked like a guy took a right cross or a bullet and kept on coming - then it was true.  If the stunt man jumped off of a high building and lived to tell about it - then it was real.  So, one day he finds himself on the top of an abandoned building with his friends holding a mattress on the ground.  He was ready to go and after a three count he jumped.  Talk about taking risks!

What this young man failed to realize was that no risk is taken for a movie (for example The Matrix Trilogy, Lord of the Rings, Superman Returns, 007 Casino Royale) without immense calculations being done first.  A team of experts are brought together to assess the need of the situation and then every conceivable possibility is taken into account: wind speed and direction, amount of air pressure in the inflated cushion that is specifically designed for high jump situations, placement of the cushion, placement of the stunt person, harness connections for the safety cable setup that the stunt person will where just in case something goes wrong (the wires will be removed in post-production thanks to computer technology)… and a host of other concerns too lengthy to write about here.  Talk about risk.

So, What’s the difference between the two?  One definition for “Risk” is: to expose oneself to the chance of injury or loss; to put onself in danger; hazard; venture.

The young man has taken a definite risk, having not done fully and truly prepared for the task so his end result will be definite injury and most likely death.  The stunt team that works for the movie production has also taken a risk, however it is one that has been immensely calculated.  So the outcome will be a great shot on film and the stunt person will walk away with an extremely high percentage of receiving no injury at all.  (There is always the potential for something unplanned to happen.  This is just a part of life.)

Risk… versus a Calculated Risk.

Life is full of risks.  Just walking across the street can be a risk, or taking public transportation, getting in a car or on a plane… or even eating someone elses cooking.  We often like to play things safe and remain in charted territories… along paths that have been walked and proven.  Yet being “safe” does not always mean we will be successful in our existence.  Ecclesiates says that “there is a time to every season.”  There are times to play things safe and there are times when engaging in a risk-action is required.  To miss the proper timing is to miss life and opportunity. 

There is something to be said about taking a calculated risk - it brings about an increase of life within us, unleashing confidence, creativity, tenacity and even humility. 

Constantly playing things “safe” leads to a weakening of our existence… and our inadvertantly weakening the existence of others around us because of our own insecurities.  God will often call us to take risks (either by leading us into something or allowing something to encounter us) and we are often afraid and may refuse because we don’t want to move past our comfort zones or we don’t want to run into opposition.  Yet, the risk that God calls us to take is not like the one that our young man took when he jumped off of the building… to his eventual death. 

The risks which God calls us to endure are more in line with the professional stunt team (actually God’s Calling exceeds mere human calculations on many levels).  God has done all the research and has planned for every contingency.  Every possible outcome has been plotted and provision has been made available so that the risk-action will be successfully accomplished!  All we have to do is be courageous enough to be obedient and do things the way that He dictates.  (Can you imagine the stunt person not following the strict guidlines of the expert team that has planned the stunt?)  God wants us to be able to walk away - sometimes unscathed and other times with bruises, but either way so that we can continue to do exploits on His behalf.

So the next time you face a challenge and feel God inviting you to take a risky journey… remember the difference between a risk and a calculated risk.  To risk is insane, however to take a calculated risk is only crazy.  Insane people are sent to mental institutions.  Crazy people are just seen as different.  So, do your homework, prepare and step out trusting and knowing that God will be glorified when you are obedient to His Call. 

“O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?… If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” -Jesus (Mark 9:19,23)

What is God calling you to do?  He has already calculated the risk.

Let me know what you think.

-Allen Paul Weaver III

Filed under: Risks and Opportunities • Self-Help

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