We are at risk from the moment of conception onward. Anything can happen as our DNA unfolds our development into a complete human. Besides all the screwy things that can happen to us outside of our control, we can also make choices (knowing and unknowing) that effectively screw ourselves.
In my own case, my mother was urged by military doctors to abort me because giving birth to me threatened her life. She refused because she said that she would never murder her own child. (Thanks Mom). And we both lived. When I was two, I got pneumonia, and nearly died. Shortly after, I developed asthma and have suffered ever since. Since then, I have had pneumonia and bronchitis several times, a stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and I have even been shot at. I have been inside an airplane (DC-10) when the pilot could not get the landgear down. In another plane, (B-727) we lost so much altitude so fast that we were all screaming thinking that we were going to die. The most exotic was when I flew into a hurricane and on the way back out, flying into head-winds to land, I witnessed the fuselage bend at levels that I did not dream possible. It was a white knucle express. I have been in car accidents. The most recent was a head-on collision last September 15. I was injured with a fractured femur, multiple contusions, chiped backbone, water on the lungs, and cracked ribs. I was run off the road by a car that forced my face to hit the rear finn on an old dodge, driving teeth back into my mouth and throat, and splitting my face open. I could go on ...
But, I still love life ... but I am also not afraid of death. I was not at fault in any of the above serious risks. I was simply on the losing end in some cases, and damn lucky in others ... or better stated, God kept me around for some reason.
The bittersweet risk was deciding to become a Jehovah's Witness ... yes, a choice, though not a well-informed choice. I say bittersweet because I value what I learned from having been a JW ... and to the extent that I was able in the end to give solid and meaningful testimony on behalf of abuse victims brings about a sweet sense of justice. But the risk also caused me the close association of lifelong friends and family for about 25-years. The choice hindered my desire and ability to advance in my engineering career ... though I managed to advance some anyway ... I did not get to the highest spot that I would have, had I not been a JW. I did not give enough to the needs of my family by way of nice trips and vacations we could have had, though we did do some. I did not deal as well with my wife's depression, though we ended up ignoring Watchtower dogma in order for her to get medical help. I did not deal well with my marriage because all those years I used the wrong tools handed to me by the Watchtower. Yet, my family and I still all love one another and we have survived, though with some serious dents and dings. We are all out of the Watchtower organization.
State of the family today: My oldest son and his wife are expecting their first child. He is in his 30s, and just landed a great job with a good company ... a position that he can excel in and achieve much success. His wife is a school teacher and in the summer a therapist. She was raised Catholic, and is not loaded with JWism. He has lived down the JWs. My oldest daughter and son-in-law have four children. She completed a business degree, and works for her church. She is a Methodist. My son-in-law is an ex-Bethelite. He completed his degree and works for Intel. He is currently serving in Iraq. My other daughter has one child and she works for the County parks district. She is also going to college. She seems to affiliate between non-denominational and Baptist. My youngest son is also married. They plan on no children. As far as I know, neither he nor his wife have any religious affiliations. He is graduating from state university this June. He plans on entering law enforcement. My wife is actually my ex-wife. She goes to church with my youngest daughter. We still love one another, but have not gotten back together. Me. I have just about finished a degree in business ( a new career for me) and I just started a new business focus. I plan on going on to complete my MBA.
Looking back on my 56-years: I love life. Life is a big risk, filled with all kinds of bad and good consequences. I really would not change much, except perhaps, knowing what I now know, I would not have been a JW ... and I would have found a way to save my marriage. Life is worth living, and living to the full. While being sensible, it is worth it to take risks ... risk being hurt emotionally, risk our life if it helps someone in need, sensibly risk our finances to build a steady fortune, but be willing to accept total loss, and start over again. Don't let the past victimize the future. Don't let our JW losses stop us from building new again. Don't let risk of loss paralyze us into doing nothing. Live life, live it to the full, taste everything, take pride in everything we do, and ... when loss happens ... honor our negative feelings ... sit around and feel our feelings ... then, when the tears have stopped, start over again, and don't just look for happiness ... make happiness happen, make meaning out of it all, and live again.
Jim Whitney