Encouragement

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Risk


To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To cry is to risk appearing sentimental and a sissy.
To reach out in the name of God for the benefit of others is to risk involvement
and criticism.
To state your belief in God before people is to risk their repudiation.
To state your belief only in God’s love is to risk exposing your true self.
To love unconditionally is to risk loss and being taken advantage of.
To live is to risk dying.
To try is to risk failure.
To try to help people with a servant’s spirit is to risk ridicule.
To be a friend to all in the Name of God is to risk loss of the friendship of some.
To state your dreams is to risk being called a fool.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest loss in life is to risk nothing.

The individual who risks nothing, does nothing, cares
About nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
They avoid suffering and sorrow because they do not
Want to learn, feel, change, grow, live, love.
For they know all and despise all.
Shackled by their certitudes they are a slave,
For they have given up their freedom to less than
They can be.
Only the person who risks is FREE




©Stephen A. Peterson, 1998

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