Life is a Risk

RISKS
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another 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 risk 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
have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
   (Author: Unknown)

The Mystical Challenge for the Number 12

When you see the number 12, what comes to mind?

The first word that drops in my mind is… SPAN... When I think of 12, I think of the spanning of time or event. The number 12 in the natural represents space and time. I think of how our day is divided into 12 hours day time and 12 hours night time, our year divided into 12 months, which help give us a grid for the passage of time. Some 12’s that immediately come to mind:

12 Midnight.

12 signs of the Zodiac.

12 Chinese Animal signs.

12 stars in the flag of the European Union.

12 people on a Jury.
12 steps program.
12 months in 2012.



But there's more that comes with the number...

Numbers are very important in various Religious and Spiritual Systems. The bible is layered with the use of the number 12 in significant and symbolic ways. According to many scholars, the number 12 denote governmental perfection. This has been shown many times in the bible through both the government of heaven and earth. The number 12 has to do with laying foundations for organizations, systems, protocol, procedures and accountability. Let's look at some biblical instances:

• 12 Sons of Jacob in Genesis who later became the 12 tribes of Israel.
• In the New Testament, Jesus had 12 Disciples, who later became the 12 Apostles. Interesting that when Judas killed himself, his spot had to be filled.
• 12 Gates of the temple
• 12 Gates in the Book of Revelation.

There’s just something about God’s order through numbers.

Has it occurred to you that there are 12 months in the year 2012?

Pause and think about that for a minute.

Is there something in it for reflection? Is there a code to be deciphered? Is there a message in it?

Ok, let's not be too deep here. Let's move to a more practical approach.
As the first of twelve months wraps up today and hope not too late, I want to challenge you to draw up 12 things you’d like to journey towards. This is very different from New Year’s Resolution. This has to do with the significance of the power of the number 12 as revealed. It could be more system, government or leadership in your life this year. It could be a Study you’d like to do, setting clear steps for your life vision, 12 challenges to overcome obstacles in your relationships. 12 Steps to Financial Freedom etc My 12 challenge is to read 12 Books in 2012.

If you do decide, I’d love to hear about your 12 Steps.