To laugh is risk appearing
the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feeling is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd
is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But, the risk must be taken,
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
has nothing, and is nothing.
He may avoid feelings and sorrow, but he simply cannot
learn, feel, change,
grow, love, or live.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he has
forfeited freedom.
ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS --IS FREE.
by Chaplain Steve Janke.
