Stepping out in faith is risky.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Trusting God to commit to the climb without knowing where it leads–that’s a risk. Actually climbing the staircase probably isn’t that hard.
On the other hand, a well-marked, well-planned climb to the top of Long’s Peak (14,259′) may involve minimal risk but, depending on ability, may be quite difficult.
Risky isn’t always the same as hard.
My 1500-mile Mississippi River ride? THAT was risky. And hard. Becky and I showed up at Lake Itasca with big smiles that concealed how much we didn’t know. We were truly trusting God for how each day would unfold. The first day of the ride was an act of faith that God would show us how to do the next day and the next eight weeks.
We did other rides, to Washington DC, in Florida, New Mexico-Arizona, and Wisconsin. Each, in its own way, was hard but not especially risky. We mostly knew what to do; we just had to lean in and do the work.
It’s easy to conflate hard and risky, especially from the outside. Doing another trip, riding more miles, following a similar path may appear to be a leap of faith when it’s really just staying committed and doing the hard work. Only God and I know what’s risk, what’s hard, and what’s the easy. safe, comfortable choice for me.
Following Jesus, that’s both risky and hard. Risky because He invites us to follow on a journey of faith, to step into uncharted waters with only the compass of love as a guide. Hard because he challenged us, along the way, to be light in dark places and do what we can to change the world.
It’s a paradox, because He also said “His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” I picture Jesus walking beside us, smiling and laughing as we experience the joy of shared sacrifice.
When we talk to folks about the FREEDOM TOUR we often end up talking about stepping out of a comfort zone. So many people look at the map and smile. “Wow, I wonder if I could do this…” Their voice trails off in a sort of dreamy mix of awe and uncertainty.
I think they’re wondering about some blend of risk and difficulty. For some folks, a ride like this is a big risk. For others, it’s simply hard. For a few, it’s both.
I can invite you to join the circle. I can tell the stories. Of community, and fun, and shared sacrifice. But you must decide whether it’s worth the risk or the hard work.
All I can say for sure is: It’s gonna be a blast!
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