RISKY BUSINESS

When I was a child, one of the things that we use to do was play the board game Monopoly. The whole family played. We would start on Christmas Eve and the game usually ended on Box Day at some point.

Board games can often give you insight into someone character. How competitive they are or their attitude to risk taking. (Useful tool for a writer).

One of my brothers always bought the railway stations and utilities rather than houses because he wanted a steady income and knew he would get it because of the supply/demand for them. Another brother went for the expensive properties figuring that if he got in financial difficulties – which he often did because he over stretched himself when playing, he could sell without losing the whole portfolio.

Interesting one is now a commercial banker and the other a solicitor.  The banker was the one who went for the stations and utilises while the other Pall Mall and Regent Street properties.

What is your attitude to risk-taking? If you use a financial adviser, they will often ask you to complete a survey to assess your attitude to risk taking.

Of course, part of what informs your attitude is our previous experience of risk taking and how successful or not, it was.

Some risk taking can be very public – I’m a celebrity – the contestants run the risk of being voted out early, they may become unpopular because of something they say or do. Their professional careers can sometimes be on the line in a very public way.

Again Strictly can see a contestant experience public humiliation. Would you take such a risk?

As writers we do take risks – to start writing and not finish. To let others read and comment on our work. To find a publisher or agent. To enter a competition. To publish and be exposed to reviews and sales.

It is though good news; in our blood as Christians. The Christmas story of Word becoming flesh is full of people who took risks.

Mary took a risk in say ‘Yes’ to God. An answer that would almost certainly lead to public humiliation within her community. Joesph took a risk on going ahead marrying Mary. The inn-keeper in housing complete strangers with his valuable animals. The shepherds leaving their flock (abid with someone but still a risk) or the three wisemen who left their country to follow a star not knowing the what or the way other than it was likely to lead them to someone important. All compiled with God’s request to play their part in him fulfilling his promise of the Messiah earthly presence with his people, despite the complications and difficulties and challenges that went with it. Thanks to them playing their part our world was forever transformed by the Word becoming flesh.

Many see Mary as mild and demur – but she was probably the greatest risk taker of all and she did it on our behalf. So perhaps the next time you feel God nudging you to do write something you’d rather not, something difficult and challenging, think of Mary and learn from her response which we celebrate as Christmas approaches.

 

Sheelagh is freelance writer and author of In-Between Girl, published by Resolute Books.