Tame

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"Better safe than sorry."



I don't like this phrase. I don't think it is wrong, but I don't like it. It assumes failure if something risky is attempted. I would much rather not have to experience the "sorry" but that does not mean that I always want to do what is "safe."



In C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan (who represents Jesus) is "not a tame Lion." He is dangerous, but good. Almost by definition, a Christian tries to live their life like Jesus. Jesus did not lead a "safe" life. I don't think he necessarily lived a reckless life, but it certainly wasn't safe.


There are certain risks that I take, and actually look forward to taking. There are others that I don't like taking. For example, I love to ski fast but I don't really like to drive fast. I'm willing to take risk with my job/career but I'm not willing to risk my finances at a poker table.


I'm sure there are risks that you can accept, and even look forward to. I'm also sure there are risks you'd rather not take.


I think taking risk is healthy. I think we are all meant to do it in one fashion or another.


This brings me to my next point. Our preceptions of other people taking risk.


I have a friend who was making significant money playing poker. When playing seriously he could easily make enough money to support a family. People who loved him (his family and some friends) didn't like the idea of him playing poker for a living. They thought it was too risky. He was fine with the risk. He had the ability to handle the risk. It wasn't foolproof, but nothing is. I'm sure if he was investing in the stock market to make a living his parents wouldn't think it was too risky. In really, playing the stock market and the poker table quite similar. It is the preception of the risk that is different.


He ended up giving up poker largely because of pressure from people who loved him.


People want the best for those that they love. They want comfort, safety and happiness for their beloved. In order to help them acheive comfort and happiness, they desire to minimize the risk of the beloved. There are two problem with this though: 1.) The preception of risk is always different for different people. What is overly risky and reckless for one person is perfectly reasonable for another. 2.) Comfort and safety do not equate to happiness. All too often people give into the pressure to be comfortable and safe, at the cost of satisfaction and happiness.


Aslan was not a tame lion. We were not made to be tame people.


To quote Pink Floyd, don't become "comfortably numb. "


Find your inner-lion. Let him/her out of his cage. While you're at it, help other people let their lions out of their cages.