Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Taking Risks

I noticed something interesting at an activity that I attended recently…and it was that today's boys are really afraid to take risks, whereas the girls seem to have more courage to try things and potentially fail.

The reason that this struck me as odd is because that the traditional stereotype is that men tend to be the risk takers.  Men are the ones who are always doing something that requires the courage and willingness to possibly fail.

At least in the instance of the activity that I attended this was not the case.

Often when asking Young Men about this kind of thing, you will get a long list of reasons why they should not take the risk.  Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of looking foolish…etc…the common denominator being FEAR.

I tell you what…I hate that word.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

There is only one good use for fear and it is the kind of fear that protects life.  The fear of an actual, real, dangerous, bad thing happening.  Fear that causes adrenaline to race though our bodies and gives us power to protect loved ones.  Fear that makes us prepare for the worst, but live for the best.

Irrational, paralyzing fear though, seems to be a dominant force in the lives of our men today.  Irrational fears that become debilitating and create physical, mental and emotional barriers to being the best we can be.  What are we really so afraid of? Why are we cowering before phantoms that aren’t there? Why do we let these fears dictate unmanly behavior? Most importantly…when did this become acceptable?

Fear is the antithesis of faith.

We are men. 

Men do not hide from a challenge.  Men do not let circumstance dictate behavior. We act with honor ALWAYS. We move forward with courage and fortitude.  We relish danger and we ‘grin when we fight’ (Winston Churchill). We take risks.  We learn from mistakes. 

WE ARE PRIESTHOOD MEN.

We protect the weak and defenseless.  We sacrifice to provide for others.  We give up our own comfort that others may be comfortable. We use our priesthood not for our own vain purposes nor to satisfy personal desires for glory.  We exercise this priesthood on behalf of those whom we serve…especially women and children.  It is our God given gift to bless their lives far beyond our own.

Of course sometimes we are scared and can be fearful…but it is those moments that true character shines through.  Are we cowards…or are we men of valor?  Is our Virtue one of honor or are we slaves to weakness and FEAR.

Don’t be afraid.  Be faithful. 

Feed the dog of courage.

NO FEAR – NO WHINING – NO REGRETS

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