Worthwhile

There's this awesome quote I heard over a week ago, 'In any relationship (worth having) there must be an element of risk.'  I know to you it may not seem so deep of amazing as it is to me but I'll let you know why, see I've fallen into the category of taking 'Calculated Risks'.  I like to weigh my options, see what makes sense, put the pros against the cons and then go from there.  It seems like this should be a great thing.  It's quite intelligible.  It makes sense, it's what we as people, civilized and educated are to do... Let me be really honest right now, this is the reason many of us live quite comfortable lives, take our allotted 2 weeks of vacation each year may be an extra if we attach the unused sick days.  Have an idealized vision of how we want life to be and even as Christ followers.  Please understand, I have no issues with anyone looking to work in a corporate structure or wanting the nice house with the white picket fence.  I have no issues with anyone who loves business in that sense or who dreams of moving up the ladder or being part of a major organization in that matter.  What I am finding and understanding in myself in this is when was the last time I took a risk in any relationship I felt was worth having?  The sad truth is not as frequent as I would like it.

I woke up this morning singing Micah Stampley's Unfailing Love.  I was in the shower and the song just kept repeating itself again and again in my mind.  When I was done and got dressed I had to find the song, so I searched for it on my phone and drove to work listening to it.  Honestly, I'm still listening to it even as I'm writing this.  The thing that gets me and why any of the quote and song make sense is because thinking about taking risks and Jesus' unfailing love for us, I thought, 'Wow, He took an awesome risk dying for us knowing that some people still would reject Him and make it seem as if His death wasn't good enough.' ...... I had to pause and really think about this.  I mean Jesus took the ultimate risk, He died, He gave His life for people that would not accept it just so that really, in essence He could have a relationship with us.  That blew my mind!!!  Still thinking about it now, it blows my mind.  

So taking a step back, re-stating what I said earlier with the quote, "In any relationship worth having there must be an element of risk."  In seeing myself really seeing myself, I understand that I haven't been taking risks.  So I haven't really been investing in those type of relationships worth having.  I haven't gone deeper and really risked anything of myself.  That's the harsh reality and as many Christians know, we here in the western hemisphere live in a way where we don't really take risks at all in our relationships.  We need to know what the outcome is going to be.  We need to know the pros and cons, we need to weigh our options but to the contrary 'Unfailing Love' throws all that out the window and simply says, 'I love you! I want to really get to know you even if it risks my heart or life.'  This is what Jesus did!  So why can't we do the same thing.  Unfailing Love doesn't always make natural sense or even seem sensible in any sort of manner but the amazing thing is this, when you do take that risk and you look back on a thriving relationship however it may be, best friends, family, spouses etc. you have a bond and a love that is untouchable and you are in a place where you will do anything for that person(s).  It becomes a true reflection of Jesus!

Understand, when I say risks, I don't mean anything that is life threatening or that will remove you from God's will and your relationship with Him.  I mean stop always making educational guesses.  Stop taking 'Calculated Risks'.  Stop weighing everything and figuring out your options or the outcome.  Be like Christ.  Let your heart lead.  I know that sounds cliche but really open up that part of you that you are afraid of having others see.  Stop holding back your personality.  Let the Holy Spirit open up those places that we try and hide so dearly to.  Risk your sensibility, your true passion, even your thought process.  Just like it took a risk for you to know Jesus, it's going to take a risk for you to really get to know other people, no matter who they are.  Let's get this one thing straight, everyone is liable to hurt you and the level that they are able to hurt you is also exponential.  

However, that all is a part of risk.  If you are anything like me, this is really scary.  It brings in the element of the unknown.  I think about my heart, I think about not wanting to be hurt. I think...... I just start thinking too much.  But I so desire to like Jesus in how he was able to talk to perfect strangers.  How He was able to just be so open and relatable.  So we have to talk to the homeless man who is sitting outside of the restaurant  who is hungry and just wants a hot meal.  Build a relationship with him.  Talk to your wife/husband who gets on your last 'holy nerve' who can't seem to do anything right in your eyes and dig deeper with her/him.  Build a true relationship with her/him.  Talk to your roommate whose personality is the total opposite of your's and really get to know her.  Build a relationship with her.  Talk to your father whom you have been distant from and risk your heart.  Build a relationship with him.  This is exactly what Jesus did for us.  He's not asking you to die for that person, He just wants you to do as He did, risk, talk and love those whom you probably never would have given a second thought.  We all have someone(s) whom we dismiss and feel like that's too much of a risk or so far out of our comfort zone to talk to.

I may be dead wrong but all I know is this we, I don't like risking because of realness of a negative outcome, however the truth is: 

Element of Risk + Worth While Relationship = True Intimacy 

and bottom line that's what we ALL want.  We all want intimacy but if we do not take the chance to have true worthwhile relationships, we'll be lacking in the very thing God created us for and Jesus died for. So once again, 

"In any relationship worth having there must be an element of risk"

I don't know about you but I want to go deeper in my relationships and have what Jesus had.  Happy Risk Taking!!!