This morning I slept in, and enjoyed watching grandchildren as I leisurely prepared for my day. My day will include flying home, and re-entering my “normal”. Normal is important to many of us—and while my normal has always been a bit unpredictable, I find I am not at all certain about my new normal. It includes an interesting blend of the familiar (Donna and I together, a return to Nutrisystem after a “slight” diversion:-), sermon prep and worship with the body of NOCC) and the unfamiliar (saying good-bye to my kids and grandkids in Texas with the awareness it is possible I won’t see them again, picking up a new Rx from the pharmacy related to my adventure, and making the last minute preparations to enter my new adventure).
Yes, I am going on an Adventure. Adventures can be exciting and new. Adventures stretch us and cause us to see things—and people—differently. Adventures make things that are important, not important—and things that are not so important to some very important indeed. Adventures are the unknown, and they force us to actually have the faith we often speak of, but don’t need to practice (it is easy to trust God for your daily bread with a freezer full). Adventures rev up the adrenaline—either from excitement or fear—and cause us to experience life in a way we haven’t been experiencing it.
And to quote a sage philosopher (Bilbo Baggins), “Adventures are such bothersome things”.
As I begin my adventure I only know part of what I will encounter—and I don’t know how I will react. I find that I am curious, even a bit anxious, about some of the less savory things I have been told to expect. But more importantly, I find myself wondering, “Will I be faithful to the King” in that situation?
According to Hebrews 12, while I certainly can’t blame God for the circumstances leading to my adventure, I know he allows it—and uses it for a purpose. Knowing this, I can enter my adventure with these certainties:
- I will not be alone. Whether the people I find comforting are there or not, I am always with the King.
- I will not encounter a situation in which I am unable to be faithful to the King (though I may or may not actually be—that’s on me).
- God will use this adventure to strengthen me—and ultimately to bring what we all hope for: Righteousness and Peace.
- If I allow him to do it (odd that he gives me that choice), he will use this adventure to help others—sometimes in ways I don’t even know about.
So the “bother” is worth it.
What adventure are you entering today? Are you willing to step out and embrace the adventure—to willingly accept that God is using it in you—even if it is bothersome? You have a choice. Be careful. Making the wrong choice can bring about an entirely other type of adventure.
I hope we encounter each other on our adventurous paths! Know Jesus, and Be Faithful!
