AT RISK

DEFINITION: At risk – the possibility of an undesirable consequence because of an activity.

“At Risk!” If this term was not on your radar two years ago – it is now. Some of us were familiar with it but did not know how it applied to us. Some have used the term to secure special privileges and others have ignored the fact that it was an apt description of them around some issue thus putting themselves at an even greater risk and sometimes others at risk too.

I believe I can safely say that we have all been “at risk” for acquiring Covid-19. The simplest activity can place you at risk. I believe I can also say with a huge degree of certainty, “you have not disintegrated, not fallen apart, you are still alive.” Why? You are reading this.

During the last two years, I have often felt that I would fall apart if I wore something to cover my mouth and nose one more time. There are things I didn’t do because I didn’t want to wear the mask. During the summer, I felt as if the flesh was melting behind it. Every time I reached this critical moment, upon removal of the mask, I found my sweaty mouth, chin, and nose intact. I did not disintegrate while lessening my risk for the virus. You feel my pain.

Our neighbors faced a snake challenge last summer. They planted berry bushes close to the house. The bushes thrived producing a bounty of juicy fruit which their children love and to the surprise of all put the neighbors “at risk” for the visitation of snakes. Who knew snakes like berries?

When the first slithering, amazing creature of God appeared, my husband’s help was requested for extraction. The husband/father of the family declared, “I am a city boy. I don’t do snakes.” A few weeks later, the second snake slithered up to feast on the delicious berries. The husband/father took a trip to the store purchased a hoe and an ax, faced the thing that was putting his family and berries “at risk” and in his words, “cut it up like a sushi roll.” His act of bravery earned him the name of “snake slayer." The “snake slayer” did not disintegrate like a piece of plastic thrown on a fire when he faced the snake.

We are all “at risk” for contracting the virus, flu, pneumonia, and all kinds of other respiratory illnesses. We are also “at risk” of living less than our God given privileges if we don’t find ways to safely navigate life despite the risk. Get your imaginary hoe and ax and tackle the snakes. Each snake tackled increases your strength to manage the next one…just ask the “snake slayer.”

2 Timothy 1:7

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Everything is a risk including not doing anything.