Adventure is NOT Out There

The title of this post is something I've been contemplating a lot over the past four months or so. I've also contemplated writing about it multiple times and each time I've been distracted by something else. This weekend I sat in silence and tried to hone in on what God had to say to me (rather than tell him everything that's on my mind). I wasn't expecting it, but (of course) He said "Write a blog post. Write the one I've been asking you about for the last four months..."

So here I am.

Have you ever seen the Disney Pixar movie UP? If you have, then you're probably familiar with the popular theme/saying from the movie, "Adventure is Out There!" Like most popular Disney phrases, this saying is plastered all over the internet. But it's not just the saying-- the word ADVENTURE seems to be everywhere now adays. Seriously, look around and I promise you'll start noticing it. The concept of adventure is somewhat a trend in our current culture-- especially for the millenial generation.

Photo  by Emma Bailey

In many ways, that's pretty amazing. It's great to think that so many people are in love with the idea of doing something exciting with the lives they've been given. However, I think the concept of adventure has been terribly distorted in the process. One of my friends and I had a conversation once about how people often watch movies or read books and say "I wish that would happen to me! I wish I was that character! I wish I had that life," or "I wish I could go on an adventure like that." But we don't really want their life, we want the benefits of their life. In each of those movies or books, the main characters usually encounter major problems like near-death experiences, heartbreak, persecution, or other dramatic circumstances. And when people are faced with similar trials in their own life, they definitely don't see it as "an adventure," or at least not the one they wanted...

So knowing this, it would seem that people don't actually want adventure at all. They want mountaintop moments with laughter and smiles without any valleys or even speedbumps. Of course we can all understand this perspective because who doesn't wish that they could live a life that never involved pain? (It's called Heaven.) But most of the adventurous moments I've had in my life always include something going terribly wrong. I think it's important to recognize the "Adventure" that is right before us everyday and learn why it's important to appreciate our moments in the valleys.

Photo by Emma Bailey

If we never experienced tough circumstances ("valley moments") then we would never be able to appreciate it when we are going through great times in life. The reality is that no matter where you are in life, there will always be problems and you can choose to see those problems as the headline of your life, or you can choose to see them on the sidelines as you stand in the middle of the field with your victory trophy. As a Christians, we must remember that the battle has already been won. If we are living on the winning team, then let's act like it! How would your life look differently, if you lived like the battle has already been won?

Many people of this generation seem as though they're always waiting for a big adventure to sweep them off their feet, and then their life will begin. Whether the big adventure is marriage, a "real" job, their dream job, a visit to a foreign country, a certain relationship, or their next big idea coming to life, so many people are waiting for the perfect conditions in order for their life to set sail.

Don't let me squash your dreams. Dreams are important and I believe you should always have them, but don't wait for your dreams to come true in order for your life to have value. And here's why-- no matter what you have, you will never be satisfied with anything but Christ. No matter how much time you spend "getting your life together," it will never be "together" enough. No matter how much stuff you have, you will always want more stuff. And no matter how many adventures you have, there will always be a new or better adventure to be had (and chances are, one of your Facebook friends has already experienced it before you'll get to).

Photo by Emma Bailey

The truth is, every day is a chance for an adventure. If it's raining, dance in it. If you see someone at school that looks like they've had a bad day, talk to them. When you overhear someone talking about their recent divorce, pray for them. If you want to get really adventurous, you might even ask if you could pray WITH them. If the weather is nice and you see a mountain, hike it. When you're given an assignment, accomplish it with gusto. When your $20 bill flys away in the wind, chase it (I've never experienced that, but that's what I'd do if it did happen ;). And when the Lord calls you to do something, do it.

If you spend more and more time listening to Him, however you listen best, then He WILL show up. He will tell you what He wants you to do, and you WILL experience the adventure of living life with Him. Some of the smallest moments that I've mentioned above, can become your biggest adventures when we have God in the midst of it all. And suddenly you'll see that we aren't just waiting for adventure, but living it.

All of this being said, I think it's important that we change our perspective to see that adventure isn't something that's "out there," instead adventure is something that's right here, right now. Adventure is every day, in our most mundane moments, we have the opportunity to live the adventure of a life with Christ. So don't wait for adventure to find you-- just live it.

I find all of this perfectly summarized in one of my favorite Bible verses, Dueteronomy 30:11-14:

This commandement that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you: it's not out of your reach. It's not on a high mountain-- you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and explain it before you can live it. And it's not across the ocean--you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. NO. The word of God is right here and now-- as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!


Live Loved,
        Emma