Nov 18th, 2020: Take the Risk

 Would You Take The Risk on Love? – choose you always

I am writing this while waiting for Telus to change the sim card of my phone. I have been thinking about my father a lot more as his funeral is approaching. My faith tells me that he is better off where he is now. Yet, the human side of life is still dealing with missing him. As I think about my parents' lives, I come to the conclusion that we don't really have much to be complaining about with anyone.


Take risks so that we can discover the real meaning of life. The most dangerous one was to leave Vietnam in 1975 and leaving much of whom they were and what they had accomplished behind. It was not easy because both of my parents lost their worldly identity by coming to Canada. Believing in God is another "risk" we take. We can never prove God's existence. We believe in who Jesus is because we have sufficient evidence but not conclusive evidence. My parents left Vietnam and came to Canada. They were hoping for a new life. Believing in God is trusting God for that new life.


Take risks in loving others so that we might know what it means to be loved. Some of the younger grand kids of my father are very sad about his passing. His presence and influence in their lives are so personal and powerful. Loving others is how we make a difference in this world. Loving is also risky. We expose ourselves to rejection and misunderstanding. My father invested his time in his grandkids, and that created much memory for them. God has done the same thing to many of us by offering us a chance to be in a relationship with Him.


Take risks in being there is another essential aspect of human safety and comfort. It is not what we do for others, but how we are when being with them. It is not about offering great material gifts. It is about spending time and being very present at that time. My father has that kind of presence. He was not pushy, but he was honest and direct in what he had to say. Young people today are not sure about who is going to stand with them when they are struggling. God wants us to know that when we stand again what is evil, we will never stand alone.


"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." - Proverbs 10:12

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." - Romans 12:9

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