Are you one who is always up for an adventure? I like adventure when I can watch from a comfortable distance. How about you? Are you the adventurous sort?
An extremely trustful Andrew Parker is ready for an adventure with his Dad, Roy Parker.
I have to admit, I am not adventurous. I like things comfortable, predictable. I like things I can control. I can’t control an adventure. To me, it brings immediate fear of the unknown.
I have two adventurous children who are now adventurous adults. I blame my husband.
He’s the one with whom they scampered up rock cliffs, clamoured to the top of fire towers, discovered the thrill of the wind in their face on a motorcycle.
Andrew was just a toddler when he went on his first motorcycle ride. Roy would take a large belt and belt it around himself and Andrew. Then, he’d zip him into his jacket with just his head poking above the zipper. Next, he’d slap on a kid-size helmet and off they’d go, not to be seen for hours.
I went on a few rides. In the most recent ride I took, Roy, motorcycle and I all ended up horizontal. Not the best position from which to see the world. The rest of the ride was an adventure in prayer.
No, give me my favorite chair and a laptop and I’m perfectly happy in a safe, secure, free-from-fear-of-adventure-environment.
What most of us really want is both comfort and adventure, but there is no such thing as a comfortable adventure or, is there?
Last year, my son moved more than 800 miles away for a job in Colorado. After that job, he moved to Wisconsin for another. I admire his courage, striking out in his own going to an area where he knows no one.
Recently my daughter, not to be outdone, moved over 6,000 miles away to Japan for a job which will last at least a year. Even more disconcerting, she doesn’t speak Japanese. Knowing her, she will learn quickly.
They moved out of the comfort zone called home where everything is known and predictable. They went to new places, a little afraid of what they would find, but always knowing home was waiting for them if they needed it.
Still, there was something bigger at work that propelled them forward, undergirded and sustained them.
They made the decision to live and be alive in the moment. Both are single. When else might they have the opportunity for adventure? Comfort was not the foremost thing on their mind.
And yet they both know their lives are held by Someone greater than them.
I look at the life of Jesus and realize, there was no greater risk-taker. He not only came to a foreign country, but he went to an alien people. He was God. He didn’t have to become a man. He had a comfortable existence.
Why would He leave a sure thing for the unknown adventure?
For Him, it was all about purpose. He did it so we can live our lives without fear of the future. He did it for love.
He did it to dispel fear … with perfect love.1 Because of what He did, we have the comfort of His love and the adventure of going forward with our lives not being afraid of what tomorrow will bring.
Comfort and adventure: who but Jesus would know we needed both? Who knows, maybe I’ll even take another motorcycle ride, one day.
What would be your dream adventure?
11 John 4:18
Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,” “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,” “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].
It’s very true, all the best adventures are attended by danger or the possibility of failure and humiliation. Which is why we should be quick to forgive ourselves, or better still receive God’s forgiveness, for failing because not trying is even worse.
Danger. Now there’s a word I definitely don’t like.
By the way, I can’t begin to tell you how much I love that photo.the way your little son is looking at his dad. So sweet.
I know! It is one of my favorites as well. It says I trust you, Dad.
God is calling me out of the comfort of myself – the protection I’ve wrapped around myself that is stopping me living in his freedom. Bravely taking the next step of allowing God to take care of my heart. Thank you for this encouragement of finding God’s comfort in a daily adventure.
Let me know how it goes for you. For me it would be much easier to hide. But then what fun woulld that be? My friends and I have decided to go to California for an awesome writers conference. No men just us and 1908 miles there and the same back. I’m more excited for the journey than the conference!