Today while I am sitting at my desk, I can see that my calendar says it is National First responders Day. A day set aside to honor all those in emergency services. That by their job description and responsibility, are the first to be called and the first to respond to a call for help. I have the mixed blessing to be married to a first responder for most of my life. My husband entered the military fire service at age 18 and has stayed in his field 47 years and currently serves as a Battalion Chief in the city where we reside. There is one of the firehouses less than a mile from our home so when Jim is on duty, I can hear the sirens every time those trucks leave the station. I often refer to it as the prayer alarm. I can be busy doing laundry, gardening, or even in my local grocery store and hear that sound and know somebody is in need of help and other dedicated folks are on their way, taking the necessary risks to lend the aid that is needed. They often face tragedy and trauma daily not to mention the variety of dangers they encounter. These professionals accept that every time an alarm goes off, they don’t have control of all the circumstances they might face, but they respond anyway. They are innate risk-takers.
Daily life in 2020 has reminded us about risk. The information changes daily about the risk of catching the virus, how we pass it, what we can do to decrease the risk. As soon as the CDC put together the list of increased risk factors for death from COVID-19, most of us acquainted ourselves with it. The Dow Jones average has kept us in the loop about the risk of market struggles and the impact on our investments and retirement. Certainly, we have been inundated with all the opposing arguments on all sides about the risks involved with the upcoming election. World news keeps us informed about the global risk of nuclear threats and climate change. Don’t forget the endless risk listed about medication ads should we have to partake in pharmaceuticals. Everywhere we turn we are faced with the notion that whether or not we want to be, we are risk-takers. Maybe not like first responders, but there is more than enough risk to go around just facing our current circumstances. For all of us walking by faith, we learn we must turn to God to live above fear and doubt. Or be paralyzed in choice and held captive from moving forward.
What if we had to choose to put it all on the line and take a risk that could totally change our life and the lives around us? How does a person take a risk like that? I am the first to admit, I am a woman who loves comfort. It can get a vice-like grip on me. I don’t love change. I crave structure and am far too analytical most times in most situations. If I am uncareful, I can expend too much energy securing comfort. Good food, comfortable convenience in my home, 1000 thread count sheets. Hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Does anybody identify? Some of these pursuits are grounded in decreasing my risk factor for giving up my comfort level. Others of these are rooted in selfishness. Selfishness and risk-taking often are not great companions. Think of first responders like police or fire. If they were to court their own selfish pursuit to decrease their own personal risk, all of us could be in trouble in a hurry.
A woman in the scriptures catches my attention and frankly, her story is quite convicting. Esther was well acquainted with a life that involved risk. She was orphaned and lived with her Uncle Mordecai. The reigning queen had taken a risk that didn’t pay off for her by defying the king. As a result, Queen Vashti was banished and the kingdom ran a beauty contest to replace her. Because Esther was Jewish, it was a risk just for her to enter, but she did so at Mordecai’s direction. Esther was selected and received an invitation to what every woman who craves a spa day would give her Instant pot for. Months of beauty treatment, hair styling, clothing, facials, etc. So far the risk pays off and behold, Esther is made queen. Then of course the plot thickens when Hamaan, an officer of the King, decides he wants to annihilate the Jewish people. Mordecai begins a campaign to remind Esther of her responsibilities to her own people and suggests she use her influence with the king to protect the Jewish nation. Now, in the daily Esther has a good life. Pampered, coiffed, luxury at her fingertips, admiration from the king. The queen gig is pretty personally comfortable. Although the king doesn’t know she is Jewish, her risk of death at this point is probably less than the rest of her people. But Mordecai continues pressing her to extend a plea to the king to save the people. Her uncle reminds her to contemplate that perhaps she has been advanced in these circumstances divinely for this exact purpose of sparing the Jews. Esther takes her responder responsibilities to heart and finally comes to a place where she is willing to risk it all, including her life, and approach the King. Her words “If I die, I die,” are a testimony of the risk she is willing to take. The outcome contains all the drama that an epic movie craves. Adventure, risk, romance, evil, courage, espionage, and an ironic ending for sure. Read the book of Ester for all the details of Esther’s risk-taking behavior.
On the scale of risks, if 10 is my life for another life and 0 is getting up out of bed, maybe I have engaged in a 5 or 6. In my early years of reckless youthfulness, I took risks that make my nature’s platinum blond hair stand on end. On a serious note, I need to take inventory of how much risk am I willing to incur to live a life of faith in Christ. Here are some of the risks I am confronted with. Standing up for what is morally right even among other believers. Am I willing to risk the social discomfort and unpopularity that comes in defending the gospel and the freedom it offers to all? Especially the part where everyone isn’t going to heaven automatically? How about saying no to the Pressure in the marketplace to secure a sale or position that might compromise my integrity? Will I risk donating or giving funds even if it isn’t logical when I look at my bottom line? Will I take the risk and stop and help even if it risks me missing what I have planned?
I am not called to emergency services for my community, but God has called me to always obey His leadings and wants me to respond promptly. Even though I might lose something of comfort or value but the return and blessing of God cannot be out risked. I cannot serve in any capacity, or calling, reach any position, or risk anything that He cannot ultimately make right. God wants to use me to help my neighbor, to love my brother, to honor those in leadership, feed the hungry, love the orphan, and the widow. As His child, by nature, He has called me to take risks. I want to recognize the opportunity like Esther and always be asking, is it for such a time as this?
5oclockworker.com 