Fun isn’t always about playing it safe.

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As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth.
“Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Mark 2:14 New Living Translation

I had finished an exhilarating climb to the start houses for the bobsled and luge at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. My son, Joel, and I had been at this track in February of 2002. We watched history as driver, Jill Bakken, and brakewoman, Vonetta Flowers, won the first ever women’s gold metal in bobsled.

Utah Olympic Park, Park City, Utah

After returning from my hike I ducked inside the museum and to my surprise I saw a ski jumper doing aerials as I looked out this window. Mind you, this was October and we hadn’t had any snow. In fact, the temperature was near 70 and it happened that these jumpers were landing in a swimming pool.

So, who had more fun: those of us looking out the window, or those who flew into the air and landed with amazing precision in the chlorinated water?

I would guess that it was the latter.

How might have Levi’s life changed had he not taken the plunge by leaving his tax booth and following Jesus? He wouldn’t have failed Jesus by abandoning him the garden. He wouldn’t have been huddled in fear with the other disciples after Jesus’ death. He wouldn’t have suffered the same fate as Jesus. Playing it safe behind the window of fear would have saved him a lot of trouble.

But is safer always better?

For Levi, safer wasn’t better. Though he didn’t know what he was getting into when he left his business behind, he must have known that what he was entering into was better than the life he was leaving. Following Jesus isn’t safe, but it’s better than being consumed by the wish that our lives were different and somehow better than they are.

In my opinion, those who have fun are those who leave the safety of window.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner