"'Course he isn't safe. But he's good."

So much of the modern American experience and, indeed, the pursuit of the "American dream" is to increase convenience and mitigate hardship in our lives, manage or eliminate risks, and remove ourselves from any possible discomfort. My house is a comfortable temperature on this steamy Florida August night, my dirty dishes from dinner are in the dishwasher, and I won't have to iron my shirt in the morning thanks to wrinkle-free fabric. Awesome! Certainly, we are much better off with many modern conveniences - did I mention the comfortable temperature? - but do you ever lament the lost challenges? I'm not saying I'd rather use an iron (actually made of iron) heated by the flame in my fireplace than throw on a perfectly pressed shirt on my way out the door. But, still, am I missing out on some "life" by having every convenience at the ready, just blocks away, individually wrapped, and approved by the FDA?

This is what I was thinking when I read C.S. Lewis' words in Wild at Heart this week - "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good." Even among the cul-de-sacs of modern America, God has preserved for us a little wildness, a little risk, in the mission He's given us, the mysteries He's presented us, and the message He's trying to send to us. He is specifically telling us that His path is dangerous and fraught with peril; that we face a formidable foe; that we will most certainly fail along the way; that sadness, loneliness, and discomfort will accompany us at various stages. Not only does C. S. Lewis tell us this path isn't safe - he says it's... good? How does that perspective fit with a modern American view of life? Can't I just put in my 8 hours today and call it a day? Look forward to the next long weekend?

How many times today did I choose comfort over the "good" path? How many times have I chosen an safe path instead of a more difficult path? Certainly, the first part of the battle is to figure out which difficult paths to choose - maybe some things should be easy, and not every difficulty has to be embraced. So, with God's guidance, will I learn which battles to fight? Will I learn which difficulties to embrace and rejoice in? Will I learn what trials are necessary for my growth and my service for His plans? And, if all those questions get answered, will I have the courage, desire, and strength to not only take those roads, but actively seek them out? Or will I instead choose one that's more... safe?