Risk

While in Pittsburgh last weekend I watched a movie on the Omnimax called Adrenaline Rush. It follows the lives of several skydivers and cliff divers. Watching them jump was amazing if not nauseating. During the movie they discuss why people jump and they suggests that it is because all people are born to take risks. What's more, they go on to claim that humans are the only animal that seeks recreational risk that puts their lives on the line for pleasure. I find that point fascinating.

I agree that we are all made to take risks. It makes us feel alive. But many of us do not embrace the dangerous and in fact most people I know run from risk. Myself included. My observation is that most of us live lives of comfortable mediocrity and are terrified of giving up our security. Sometimes I think our eagerness to avoid risks reveals our limited faith in God and in ourselves.

But the deep urge to take risks still exists within us yearning to come out. This is what causes some people to jump out of planes. Others sneak around participating in immoral behavior because they love taking the risk of getting caught. Some love the risk of experimenting with drugs and alcohol thinking they can control it. Lazy people even experience risk vicariously through watching characters on TV and movies.

But we were not born to use our risky nature to simply indulge our passions. Our desire to take risks should be what drives us to achievement and success. Risk taking is the common thread among all great leaders. Many leaders placed their ideas and lives on the line only to achieve failure but they persevered and their ideas and inventions live on today. The movie discussed how Da Vinci actually designed the first working parachute. In his day, people must have thought his idea was crazy. How many of our ideas today are as crazy? Without trying them we will never know.

Without taking a chance and risking failure, there can be no change and without change how are we supposed to improve our lives and our communities. If we avoid taking risks at all costs or if we channel our risk taking into absurd or unhealthy hobbies we are merely settling for the status quo life. While that life is safe, it is also boring and not deserving of our souls.