The Art of Living Dangerously

There is something to be said about living dangerously. There something in all of us that yearns for excitment, for danger, for the unknown. Somewhere deep down we want to do something that counteracts the person we believe ourselves to be. There is a frustration-- a battle. Do we do what is right? What is expected? What is moral? Are we safe?




Are we SAFE?



Or do we offend and turn?



Recent findings of the human nature tell us that rarely do we flip the bird and surrender to danger. It is unusal to feel the rush or exhiliration of a renegade. There is a catch 22 to the human perspective-- We can not be dangerous if we are safe. We can not be safe if we are dangerous.



But I refute! This is of human resolve, who, is incredulous towards a new resolution. Who is incredulous to the idea of existing as just a small being in this gigantic world, in this gigantic divine scheme of things.



Living dangerously isn't living stupidly as we so quickly assume. It's not so much jumping off a bridge. It isn't so much playing chicken on a blind drive.



No. Danger is more.



I have to ask what am I most afraid of? What would be most dangerous?



DANGER is:

Exposure or vulnerability to harm or risk.

A source or an instance of risk or peril.

Obsolete Power, especially power to harm.



EXPOSURE:

disclosure, as of something private or secret



an act or instance of revealing or unmasking, as an impostor, crime, or fraud

presentation to view, esp. in an open or public manner

the condition of being exposed without protection



VULNERABILITY:

capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt



open to moral attack, criticism, temptation,



I am uncomforable with exposure and vulnerability. I don't want people to see my insides out-- the crap. I don't want them to see who I am-- the good and the bad. I might get wounded. I might get hurt. The imposter would be revealed. There would be a battle... there would be attacking. Someone would get hurt.



I do not like danger in this sense. To risk it all. To be obsolete in response.



There is no safety.



NO.



There is no safety within MYSELF.



There is safety. Because living dangerously is not jumping off a cliff with a bungie. No, that is exciting. That is an easy kind of danger.



No living dangerously is living the way that Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians, his letters, in Acts, It's the way Jesus lived and what he taught. It's the way that great leaders, people who change nations live. It's the way I choose to live.



Living dangerously is being love. It's risking rejection and hurt in relationships. It's going around the mountain again and again for people. Never giving up hope in people. Continuing to love those before you, when the betrayal, the pain, the hurt seems to be the cost. It's seeing the person who is hurting at the Safeway and forging conversation. It's asking to pray for the stranger in front of you. It's stepping out of your comfort zone so that someone else will be comforted. It's risking reputation. It's not trading short term popularity for long term impact. It's being countercultural. Not being independently minded but community minded.



Living dangerous is forgiveness. It's walking through the muck of our mess ups and others. Its restoring and not fleeing. It's moving forward. It's seeking His wisdom. It's not saying what we want, to tear others apart and put ourselves above. It's tough love at times. It's soft love at times. It's forefitting ourselves to a life that is more meaningful, more purposeful, more fulfilling to ourselves and others.... it's more than we could ever dream. It's being on this journey, and falling along the way. It's getting up. It's persisting. It's being weak and giving up to the resistance, and never giving up on the promise, the truth. It's battling the hard things. It's being equipped and trusting He who equips.



Living dangerously is giving up control. It's trusting. Trusting others, but more importantly, trusting Jesus. Trusting the most loving Father. Trusting that he is enough. That he will provide, that he will fulfill... trusting his will for your life. Packing up and moving 3,000 miles away with no trust fund, knowing he will provide and he has called you. It's following him. It's stepping out in faith. Living dangerously is truly risking everything that we are comfortable with. It is dying to ourselves. It's not taking the easy path. It's being the rose among thorns, pushing to bloom. It's not tradition. It is tradition. It's losing. It's seeking. It's embracing the excitement that comes along. It is adventure. It's nothing we ever dreamed of, yet everything we've ever hoped for.



It's living. Truly living.



Are you living? Or just surviving?



Face the danger, walk through it. Something beyond marvelous is waiting for you.