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“The greatest opportunities require the highest risk.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 1405-1406). Kindle Edition.

Today is in Margaret and my life a very exciting day.  It is our daughter Stefanie’s birthday.  She was born 30 years ago today between 12:00 am and 1:00 am in Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana.  The fact of being a parent is for sure one of the greatest opportunities two people can have together but it also has such high risks in it.

There is the risk of childbirth.  It can be a life and death situation.  Nearly six months back we saw that potential when Stef and Andrews’s little Harper was born.  She was at risk.  Margaret and I barely made it from Pasadena, California to Las Vegas, Nevada before Stef went into the delivery room.  The birthing of a child has risks.

Then raising them to adult hood has risks.  But there are so many great opportunities along the way.  I love the privilege of being a parent and I love the privilege of being a grandparent.  But it all started with another great opportunity that also was a great risk when I asked Margaret to be my wife and she said, “Yes.”  And it for sure has been worth the risk.

Life has it’s opportunities that have great risks involved in them, but they are so worth the risk.  I hurt for people who have all through their lives taken the safe way.  They were afraid and so they let so many great opportunities go by the way.  In reality they haven’t really lived life, they have just existed. 

I have a friend who lives on the east coast who is afraid to fly.  He’s never seen the Rockies in Colorado or the Sierras’ of California.  Of course he has never seen Hawaii.  His fear kept him from experiencing so much of God’s wonders. 

Others have lived the life of a single because of the fear of rejection.  Oh there is nothing wrong with being single but not because of fear. 

There are so many great opportunities out there that God has prepared for us to enjoy and experience but in all of them there is some risk involved.  But there is also a God who will be there to guide you through those risks.  That is what faith and trust is all about.

So what great opportunity are you afraid to take the risk to do?
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