I had the opportunity to speak to a group of young professionals last night.  It was a great time sharing my personal story and that of my business with an absolutely great audience.  What struck me as I was sharing was fairly profound:

A life lived courageously is really the only life worth truly living.

It was sparked by the young man speaking before me.  He shared a story from the Bible about four lepers who were ostracized from their community due to their physical condition.  After some time, they all decided that they were more or less left for dead, so they may as well leave the safety of the city gates and venture into the wilderness, into areas unknown.  Ultimately, they stumbled upon some plunder from a battle—treasures and food in abundance and fully enjoyed the spoils.  One of them spoke up after a bit, uncomfortable that they should enjoy the loot just for themselves, so they went back to the city and invited all of the denizens to come and share in the plunder.

And it struck me.  That’s what this whole life thing is about.

It’s about not being content in our safety; it’s about venturing forth into strange and potentially dangerous territory; it’s about finding the treasure in the journey and ultimately sharing it with others for their benefit.

That’s a life well lived.

The thing is, taking a step out of our comfort zone is really freaking scary.  In fact, I’ve ben out of my comfort zone for years now, and even still, like a siren song echoing off of stormy waters, safety tries its best to lure me in on a regular basis.

But I’ve found that a life lived for safety gets really boring after a while.  Yes, it’s comfortable, but more in a “I’ve been watching TV on the same plush couch for way too long so that now I can barely move” kind of way.

I don’t think God calls us to a life on the couch.

I think God calls us to live a life on the edge, stepping out and testing the air where it’s a bit thinner, a bit more exposed, and yet delightfully wild.

I believe the reason God calls us to Courage is that without it, we don’t need him quite as much.  But with him, and Courage, and us working in partnership, amazing things start to happen…

When we step out, we find ourselves right in the middle of opportunity, if we’re willing to look for it.

When we step out, we have no choice but to experience the thrill of fear blended with exhilaration; the roller coaster ride of life takes over and we get to appreciate the adventure for more of what it is.

I think of those who live courageous lives and I think of those who serve our country, sacrificing themselves for the safety of others.

I think of dads who eschew the workaholic lifestyle, choosing family advancement over career advancement.

I think of dedicated teachers who invest in the lives of young people daily, choosing to build into them and providing them with a sense of hope for their future.

I think of those who courageously say no to the increasing pressures of culture, choosing to stay the course rather than to fit in.

When I think of courage, I think of you and of me, mere mortals who are faced with a multitude of decisions each and every day—decisions that lead us to safety, or decisions that lead us through danger and on to the rich experiences that Life has to offer.

For, like the lepers, our job is to fight inertia like the bitter enemy it is, striving forth at all costs, and head first into the battle.  For in those ventures, we just might find treasure.

And once we find it, what a pity it would be for us to keep that all to ourselves.  The purpose of the treasure is much greater than simply our own satisfaction.

So go ahead—do something courageous today.  And the day after.  And the day after that.

And when you find that treasure that is the Life you were designed to live, do the world a favor and share.  Share your lessons, your trials, your successes and your failures.

For we’re all outcasts to one degree or another, and we all need to know that we’re not alone in this journey.  That there is a common bond that we all share, that we’re bound to each other in our humanity, and that a life lived courageously brings out that humanity in such beautiful ways that it can’t help but encourage, unify, and bring forth a better tomorrow.

So go forth, friends, and give yourself (and us) the gift of doing some amazing things today…