A few years ago, I observed a characteristic in me I hope is not permanent.
After our boys moved out of the house, we moved to a downtown condo. The condo sat on a hill, overlooking the river district of our community. We loved the view, but it presented a problem on windy days. We had to weatherize our front porch every time we suspected a storm, turning over the furniture and making sure everything was secure.
One night Cheryl heard the wind picking up and asked if we should prepare the porch. What she really meant was I should get up and prepare the porch, but I love the gentle way she “suggests” such things. Getting up at 1:30 AM to step onto my front porch in my boxers has never been my idea of fun, but I do like a happy wife, so I headed out to do my job. When I got back into bed she thanked me to which I replied:
“Better safe than sorry.”
Instantly the thought occurred to me. I would have never used this phrase a few years ago.
“Better safe than sorry” has never appealed to me before. Sounds like something my mother would have said to me.
I like risk-taking. I embrace change. I lived my life running to things others say can’t be done or they aren’t willing to try.
Even more, I’ve made a commitment to walk by faith — but this is more than a spiritual decision. It’s a personal wiring. It’s in my DNA.
In fact, I’m scared of “better safe than sorry“.
What happened to me? Am I that old? 
So, I came up with an immediate plan.
Shortly after this, my oldest son and I have went skydiving!
We jumped out of a “perfectly good plane”.
I had to! I couldn’t stand the thought of resting on the safe side.
What’s the purpose of this post? You’re wondering, right?
Well, if you’re like me, the older you get, the more likely you are to play it “better safe than sorry”. You want to be comfortable. You want to pay your bills and keep your children in the right schools and plan for retirement and live in a safe neighborhood. I get it. And, all of those are okay. There’s nothing wrong with living a so-called “normal” life.
Unless God calls you to something else.
And, if God is calling you to something bigger than your ability to understand — I have some strong advice. It’s wisdom! It’s strongly Biblical.
Don’t play it safe! Play it by faith!
I’m not suggesting you don’t weatherize your house. I’m certainly not suggesting you jump out of a plane.
But, I am suggesting you be willing to do everything God asks you to do — even when it’s scary, the future is uncertain, and you don’t have a clue how in the world you are going to do it.
Regardless of your age – or your fears.
And, maybe you do need some disciplined risk-taking to stretch your ability to make the big moves again.
God never promised a safe-life. He promised an abundant life. God never asked us to “play it safe”. He asks us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He never promises a risk-free life. He promised a victorious life — as we trust in Him!
Be honest: Are you more likely to prefer a risk or the safe side?
The post Playing it Safe — Not My Style — And, Often Not God’s Plan appeared first on Ron Edmondson.