To choose to accept the freedom which comes from God and to act on that freedom demands risking.

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risk must be taken, because .... the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing  and is nothing.
One may avoid suffering and sorrow, but one simply cannot learn,  feel ... change ... grow ... love ... live. Chained by one's certitudes, one is a slave,  that person has forfeited life.
Only a person who risks ... is free.

It is a risk to embrace the freedom given to us by Jesus. It is a risk to embrace the cross. It is a risk to choose the way of the Lord and not the way of the world. It is a risk to be a disciple of Jesus. (To be continued)