The Risk Poem

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to others is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams before a 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 risks must be taken,because the greatest hazard in life is to do nothing.
The person who risks nothing,does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,

but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are a slave;

they forfeited their freedom.

Only the person who risks can be free.

This poem has been around for some time. I have done a bit of searching on its history and authorship, but to no avail. It certainly smacks of trite pop psychology, but nevertheless I appreciate it. There is truth here. Perhaps we might say that even God takes risks. Could we consider the Incarnation as risk-taking? Certainly, the decision to create humankind was a risk which has had far-reaching consequences.