An Adventurous Spirit
I saw a social media clip the other day about a married couple on vacation. It read something along the lines of, “When a I want to relax all day because I’m on vacation marries an adventurer”. It showed the couple hiking up a natural looking stairway at some outdoor tourist spot. The wife (the relaxer) was struggling on the hike and obviously not having a good time. The husband (the adventurer), on the other hand, was already almost to the top, oblivious to his wife’s toil. It made me laugh because I’ve witnessed this before and can tell which category individuals fit into when I see them out and about.
Which type of vacationer are you, the relaxer or the adventurer? I admit, I am an adventurer. I usually plan the family vacations, and they are packed full of activities…new sights and experiences. When I go somewhere, I want to see and do as much as I can because I know I may never be there again.
I was blessed to go on my first trip to Europe with my daughter and mom this summer. My daughter was part of a Missouri youth concert band, and we traveled to five different countries to watch them perform. Additionally, the day we left on our trip my mom celebrated her 59th birthday. Therefore, we decided to make it a three-generation girls’ trip.
My adventurous heart was ecstatic! While visiting Paris, France, my daughter and I went up the Eiffel Tower. Being a voyager, I wanted to get the full effect of the experience. Therefore, I encouraged my daughter to take the stairs with me for the first part of the ascent and then follow up with the mandatory lift on the second portion.
We had to climb 674 steps! At the end of the stairs, I was feeling excited and rejuvenated having accomplished the feat and ready to see more. My daughter, on the other hand, simply looked at me and between ragged breaths said, “Never again.”
On one hand, I’m glad she pushed herself to conquer our goal. However, I also felt somewhat remorseful because when I get excited and take off on an escapade, I admit I sometimes don’t consider that others aren’t as venturesome as myself. Over time, I have learned I must check myself on this.
That is why, a few days later, when I went on a hike in the mountains of Switzerland, I invited my mom and daughter to accompany me, but I understood when they both declined and instead sat and had a picnic lunch while enjoying the view of the Matterhorn. I had my adventure. They were able to relax. We all were content.
However, it is important to realize that God calls us to be adventurous for Him as we spread His Word to others. “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,’” (Mark 16:15).
Like the wife in the example above, sometimes being adventurous is hard, especially if it’s out of your comfort zone or if you prefer a relaxing atmosphere.
Going on journey for the Lord is not for the faint of heart, as the apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 11:26: “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.”
While walking up the steps of the Eiffel Tower or hiking the slopes of the Swiss Alps is difficult, the journey for Christ may not be tranquil or leisurely either. However, just as the views at the top of the peaks are often exquisitely beautiful, the reward at the end of our work for the Lord will be priceless.
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand,” (Psalm 16:11).
Don’t pass up the opportunity for an adventure. You are capable of more than you know. If God is calling you on a journey for Him, you won’t be disappointed taking the trip.
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage,” (Psalm 84:5).
A Place of Rest
While God wants us to journey out into the world and make disciples for Him, He also stresses the importance of rest. So, for all you relaxers, this one is for you!
Some people think of rest as laziness, and in all honesty, too much idleness isn’t good for your body, your mental state, or your soul. However, our world today is busy, and life can get hectic. Therefore, rest is vital for everyone.
God exemplified this at the beginning of the Bible, when He himself made it a point to rest after 6 days of creating the world and all natural things in it. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done,” (Genesis 2:2-3).
Because of this, the Lord wants us to set aside a day of rest every week as well. The Sabbath (our day of rest) is a gift from God…a day when we focus on Him and the physical, mental, and spiritual rest we gain from Him. “There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience,” (Hebrews 4:9-11).
Not only do we gain rest from the Sabbath, but we often vacation for rest…rest from work, from school, or simply from the monotony and stress of normal life. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:7).
Sometimes rest is best found just getting away by yourself for a while. Jesus stressed this to His apostles who were busy doing His work. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest,’” (Mark 6:31).
Wherever you find rest (a solitary place in your home, a quiet place in nature, or a favorite vacation spot), I hope you make it a point to visit that place frequently.
Whether lying on a sunny beach, sitting on a mountain top, camping beside a pristine river, people-watching in a bustling city, trying a new cuisine, or sitting poolside on a tropical cruise liner, take the time to simply stop and look around at the splendor of the Lord’s creation, reminding yourself to rest in the moment and rest in God’s presence all around you.
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,’” (Exodus 33:14).
Solo Journey
Have you ever gone on a trip or vacation by yourself? I have, and it was honestly wonderful. In fact, I do a lot of things on my own. I’ve gone to see movies by myself. I’ve gone out to eat by myself. I go shopping by myself. I’ve gone to school sporting events by myself. I’ve done solo hikes.
Since there was nothing planned for my fifteenth wedding anniversary, I took a spontaneous weekend trip to Arkansas. That was an awesome excursion. I explored Little Rock on foot, marked another state capitol tour off my list, hiked to the highest peak in the state, and enjoyed much of what Hot Springs had to offer.
Because it was just me, I was able to do what I wanted to do, see what I wanted to see, take time visiting places that interested me, and avoided things that were unappealing. It was peaceful, fun, and rejuvenating.
While going on trips are often more entertaining and less lonely when you go with others, as with Ruth’s and Naomi’s journey from Moab back to Bethlehem, sometimes God calls us to solo tasks or to journey away from family and friends for His purpose.
There was a woman in the Bible who had such a calling. Her name was Rebekah, and you can read more about her in Genesis 24-27.
Rebekah was a young woman living in the town of Nahor which was part of Mesopotamia. She was the great-niece of Abraham. Abraham sent one of his servants to travel from his home in Canaan back to the land of his ancestors to find a wife for his son Isaac because he didn’t want Isaac to take a wife from the neighboring Canaanite people.
The servant packed supplies and gifts and set-off to find Isaac a wife among Abraham’s people. The servant prayed to God asking Him to send a woman who would offer him a drink of water from the community well and offer to water his camels as well. Rebekah was that woman.
Rebekah brought the servant to her family home where he explained the reason for his journey. Rebekah’s family agreed to the marriage proposal but wanted Rebekah to be able to stay with them for several more days before leaving. The servant was reluctant to stay, wanting to leave quickly to get back home to fulfill Abraham’s wishes.
Rebekah’s family deferred the decision to her. “So they called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ ‘I will go,’ she said. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men,” (Genesis 24:58-59).
Rebekah showed great faith in the Lord and courage as she chose to permanently leave her home, her family, and all she knew to travel five hundred miles away to marry a man she had never met before.
Through her union to Isaac, Rebekah became the mother of Jacob (who was later named Israel by the Lord), as well as the ancestor of King David and Jesus the Messiah. She took a solo journey for the Lord, and as a result became part of His great promise to Abraham and the Israelite people.
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:4-8).
Therefore, be adventurous because you don’t want to miss out on the beauty of the journey or the rewards to be had. However, also remember to take opportunities to rest and renew your mind, body, and soul. Additionally, whether God is calling you to do His work or if your purpose is simply relaxation, don’t be afraid of a solo journey. Sometimes those are the best ones.
When you really think about it, you’re never truly alone if you’re a child of God; he is with you no matter where you travel. So, take the trip because you may not get another chance to, and you don’t want the regret of unrealized blessings that may be found along the way.
As you journey, remember to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight,” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Have a blessed week!
-Becky
