to know, and be known

i'm reading a book called The Active Life, by Parker Palmer. holy crap, this book is right on target with what my life feels like.
His premise is - action and contemplation are not polar opposites... rather, they are action-and-contemplation, an intricate blending that leads to a full life. i could post so many freaking quotes from this book, but i'd rather take your time and mine just to say READ IT. it's cheap, and it's not too long. no pictures, though.

one of the things he mentions is action, in life, being characterized by risk.

when we act, we are taking a kind of risk. sometimes more substantial risks than others.
when we are speaking, when we are serving, we are taking risks.
We are also showing more of ourselves... through full action, we are opening up a part of our being to observation, both from outsiders and from the often-merciless self.

We all deeply desire to be known, though this desire brings with it risk and fear and a number of other factors. We also deeply desire to know others, in the same way we are known.

sometime's i'm not so sure, but usually (and right now), i can say that the risks i take in knowing others, and revealing myself to be known through action and word, are worth it.