Playing it safe?

(08.11.21– Risky Behavior? –Luke 19:26)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When you come right down to it, is there every any excuse for doing "nothing" when "something" is called for?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I read recently an interesting, but at first somewhat puzzling statement, from the late management consultant, Peter Drucker. He stated: "People who don't take risks generally make about two major mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year." Huh? Think about it, though. Drucker was saying that, in essence, people who take calculated risks are no more at risk than those who don't. Essentially, nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the old saying goes. Ultimately, however, since the mistakes really end up canceling each other out, we ought to be far more motivated to assume some risk in life in order to accomplish better and greater things than we ought to be content with things just as they are with no possibility of change.

When you come right down to it, is there every any excuse for doing "nothing" when "something" is called for?

Here's a story: A young reporter wanted to get a feel for agriculture, so he paid a visit to a farmer and asked, "How's your wheat coming along?" The farmer replied, "I didn't plant any." "Really?" asked the reporter. "I thought this was supposed to be wheat country. Why didn't you plant any wheat?" "Some say it is," came the reply. "But I was afraid we might not see enough rain this year and the wheat would be stunted." "Well, what about your corn. You've planted that, haven't you? How is it doing?" the young man inquired. "Didn't plant corn this year," the farmer said. "I was afraid of corn blight, so I didn't plant corn." "Alfalfa? Asked the reporter." "Nope. Afraid the price might drop; didn't plan that either." "Well, then," asked the reporter, "what did you plant?" "Nothin'," the farmer said. "I just played it safe." (Author unknown)

Sir Hugh Walpole advised, "Don't play for safety – it's the most dangerous thing in the world." Of course, unnecessary risk-taking is foolish. But if life is to be lived fully, then saying NO to fear and taking that risk may be a necessary step to success. It takes courage to do what you've never done and go where you've never been. But, that's how things get done. God's work, doing good to our fellow man, takes our hands and feet. It takes our commitment to action. So, whatever huge decision looms before you, your best solution will likely be made from the side of courage, rather than fear, for in the end, a fearful decision is a dangerous decision. Alan Alda puts it like this: "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful – yourself." Does that sound like a place you want to go? Don't worry about making mistakes getting there. You're liable to make as many doing nothing as doing something.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we know that unnecessary risk-taking is foolish. But we also know that You want us to live our lives fully. Give us the courage to say NO to fear and take the risks we need to be successful in life. We know it takes courage to do the good for our fellow man, through committed lives of action. Forgive us when we don’t take the side of courage, but one of fear, making our decisions dangerous and not safe. Help us by Your Spirit to quit worrying about making mistakes as we walk along the path of life. We’re liable to make as many doing nothing as doing something. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Playing it safe?

(08.11.21– Risky Behavior? –Luke 19:26)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When you come right down to it, is there every any excuse for doing "nothing" when "something" is called for?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I read recently an interesting, but at first somewhat puzzling statement, from the late management consultant, Peter Drucker. He stated: "People who don't take risks generally make about two major mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year." Huh? Think about it, though. Drucker was saying that, in essence, people who take calculated risks are no more at risk than those who don't. Essentially, nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the old saying goes. Ultimately, however, since the mistakes really end up canceling each other out, we ought to be far more motivated to assume some risk in life in order to accomplish better and greater things than we ought to be content with things just as they are with no possibility of change.

When you come right down to it, is there every any excuse for doing "nothing" when "something" is called for?

Here's a story: A young reporter wanted to get a feel for agriculture, so he paid a visit to a farmer and asked, "How's your wheat coming along?" The farmer replied, "I didn't plant any." "Really?" asked the reporter. "I thought this was supposed to be wheat country. Why didn't you plant any wheat?" "Some say it is," came the reply. "But I was afraid we might not see enough rain this year and the wheat would be stunted." "Well, what about your corn. You've planted that, haven't you? How is it doing?" the young man inquired. "Didn't plant corn this year," the farmer said. "I was afraid of corn blight, so I didn't plant corn." "Alfalfa? Asked the reporter." "Nope. Afraid the price might drop; didn't plan that either." "Well, then," asked the reporter, "what did you plant?" "Nothin'," the farmer said. "I just played it safe." (Author unknown)

Sir Hugh Walpole advised, "Don't play for safety – it's the most dangerous thing in the world." Of course, unnecessary risk-taking is foolish. But if life is to be lived fully, then saying NO to fear and taking that risk may be a necessary step to success. It takes courage to do what you've never done and go where you've never been. But, that's how things get done. God's work, doing good to our fellow man, takes our hands and feet. It takes our commitment to action. So, whatever huge decision looms before you, your best solution will likely be made from the side of courage, rather than fear, for in the end, a fearful decision is a dangerous decision. Alan Alda puts it like this: "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful – yourself." Does that sound like a place you want to go? Don't worry about making mistakes getting there. You're liable to make as many doing nothing as doing something.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we know that unnecessary risk-taking is foolish. But we also know that You want us to live our lives fully. Give us the courage to say NO to fear and take the risks we need to be successful in life. We know it takes courage to do the good for our fellow man, through committed lives of action. Forgive us when we don’t take the side of courage, but one of fear, making our decisions dangerous and not safe. Help us by Your Spirit to quit worrying about making mistakes as we walk along the path of life. We’re liable to make as many doing nothing as doing something. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.