Life is a series of risks

The story is told of a famous tightrope walker in the late 1890's, who strung a wire across Niagara Falls.

As 10,000 people watched, he carefully inched his way along the wire from one side of the falls to the other. When he got to the other side, the crowd went wild cheering. After the tightrope walker was able to quiet the crowd he shouted to them, "Do you believe in me?'. The crowd shouted back, 'We believe! We believe!" He shouted back to the crowd, "I'm going back across the tightrope but this time I'm going to carry someone on my back. Do you believe I can do that?" Getting into the spirit of the thing, the crowd yelled back, "We believe! We believe!" When he was able to get the crowd quieted down again, he asked, "Who will be that person?" Suddenly, you could hear a pin drop as the crowd became very silent. Not one person was willing to apply the very truth that they professed to believe in - that the tightrope walker could cross the falls with a person on his back.

Its very easy to make proclamations about issues that involve others, but much more difficult, if not impossible, to accept responsibility when we are the ones called to help resolve those issues. In the same way, it is easy to sit back and blame others for the lack of progress, when we ourselves could be an integral part of the solution. I'm not thinking of anything specific, but this is applicable in communities, schools, churches, the work place, the political scene, as well as in social situations. I am being specific now when I mention that our Beach Optimist Club gives the "Rookie of the Year" award to a new member who made unusual contributions during the first year as a member of the Club.

The award this year went to Scott Neal, who volunteered to take on many of the tasks of the Club. His eagerness and willingness to serve helped tremendously in the success of the Beach Optimist Club this past year. Scott stands as a wonderful example of a person willing to take risks in order to make things happen.

Anne Dillard said, "If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."

Perhaps our Beach Optimist Club, and other groups, should establish a new category for members: "Risk Takers of the Year!"

Any volunteers?