Today I join the Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday with the prompt, Grow.  Writing briefly from the overflow of the heart. For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Won’t you join in the fun!

 

I lay on a towel over the damp leaf hewn lawn with my camera this week.  Take pictures looking up from this vantage point, see things differently behind the lens.  Join in on a prompt at the High Calling to challenge photography skills.  And I think about how my friends would laugh if they saw me on my back like this.

But really, I think about all the things I have done that have challenged my comfort zone since I started this blogging journey just three months ago.  The way I have learned a myriad of new things about technology, joined in on my first Twitter party, wrote unexpected stories because someone gave a prompt, converse with all kinds of wonderful people that I never knew existed.

The way to grow involves a willingness to risk.

Like heroes of the faith D.L. Moody, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham and Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini.  These men and women who lay down their reputation, comfort and security to grow the Kingdom, and in the process grow themselves.

The everyday heroes that welcome children from other countries, take the risk and adopt, give generously to help grow others.

Without being willing to risk, we fail others as well as ourselves.  Miss opportunities; divert call when we stay comfortable.

And most of my married life has been this way.  My husband lays down his degree in architecture to pursue ministry as a vocation.  How we let go of careers to go to seminary, join Youth With a Mission as missionaries without the security of a paycheck.  Move to places we have never seen before.  God uses it all to point us to destiny, fulfill his purposes, grow us from the inside out.

I am so grateful that when we say yes to Him, when it doesn’t feel comfortable or certain, we grow in ways we never dreamt or imagined.

What risks are you taking to grow?