Risk It

I came across this book on the internet while researching my next devotional, called The Dash. It caught my eye because I remember a poem I had read not too long ago labeled the same. While looking into the book I realized the book was based on the same poem. I read the poem once again and thought it would go good with my topic on risk. Life is full of risk and how we step into those risks greatly influences our lives and other people. The Bible is full of people who took risks on what the Lord prompted them to do. Noah, build the ark, rain is coming.  Risk! Abraham, leave everything and go to the Promised Land. Risk! Take your son Isaac and yield him as an offering.  Risk! Joshua, take the land. Risk! I think you get the picture. These are just a few of the stories in the scriptures where God asked men to risk everything and to trust him.  So what comes to mind is what is Jesus asking of me to risk?  Hopefully at the conclusion of this devotional we can come to some good conclusions.

The poem The Dash was written by Linda Ellis and is something I believe will speak to us. These are her words as we move ahead.

"I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tomb stone from the beginning ... to end. He noted the first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For Dash represents all the time she spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth. For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, or even the cash. What matters most is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard!  Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough and consider whats true and real and always try to understand the way people feel. And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile. Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent the dash?"

I don't know if this poem hits your heart like it did mine, but the poem hit the dash. The verse I want to leave you with today is in Romans 12:9,  "Love from the center of who you are... hold on for dear life to good."  Living the dash in life takes an attitude of risk. It is choosing to step into life and being vulnerable around people, maybe your husband or wife, your kids, people at work. It all takes risk. Are you ready to risk it?  I hope this poem spoke to you as it did to me.

*Written by contributing blogger, Jason Colagiovanni