Playing it Safe

So, this morning as I'm in the shower, I start singing Jon Bon Jovi's Midnight In Chelsea; there's a part of the chorus that goes:

No one pins their dreams on me

No one's lookin at me to be...

I'm the man I wanna be, the man I wanna be

Midnight in Chelsea

I'm singing this song, and I get this little witness saying, "Yeah, you are the man you want to be; but, are you the man I want you to be?"

In a split second I have a barrage of thoughts that basically boil down to the point that I'm playing it safe with my life.

Each of us has a specific Calling on our lives. And, most of us spend our entire lives running from that Calling because we're afraid that it means we'll have to give up our freedom, or we'll have to do something we don't want to do. Or.... that we'll end up alone. That's why I run from it. I lived the Life I was meant to for a while. It left me quite lonely because I knew so few who were willing to Live - most just wanted to survive. "Just let me live out what I know - I want security," is what we say to the ones who call us to Live.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Anyone who is willing to give up one ounce of freedom for security, doesn't deserve either." I agree. And, I am guilty for giving up freedom.

You see, living the Life we're meant to - that we're Called to - is living in the utmost freedom. If we deny the Life, then we enslave ourselves to mediocrity. Mediocrity has become the god of this generation. I'm not talking about technology or financial success - I think our generation are perfectionists in those areas. But, where we've bowed down to mediocrity is in our spiritual lives, in our morals. We've lost touch with what is True, and have settled for ideas that appeal to our spiritual and moral mediocrity.

It's easy to play it safe.... at first. But, once I realized what I've been doing these past couple years, I've become increasingly disgusted with my life.

"Well, why don't you change it?" you are probably asking. It comes down to being alone. However, now I know some people who are Living - or at least longing to Live. It's so bizarre; I am actually becoming more alone, the longer I stay where I'm at. It'd be much better for me - and probably for everyone else - if I just let go of the crap I'm holding on to that is keeping me from Life; and, just go for broke.

God promises to catch us if we fall running to Him. He's there to Love us, to Grow us up into His very likeness. "Playing it safe" - settling for comfort and 'security, instead of Living the Life we're Called to - is not safe at all. No, going full tilt for Life is the only secure place. Everything else is like shifting sand - you just can't stand on it.

Paul exhorted the Galatians not to focus on circumstances - whether good or bad - for, they always change. Instead, he encouraged them to focus on the Eternal Truths of Christ; for, in Him alone is lasting and permanent security.

Let's hold back, no longer, friends. Let's Live!