Life’s An Adventure

My son couldn’t sleep.

He was talking a million miles a minute, his little chatterbox-brain unable to contain the excitement of it all:

The Zoo.

Tomorrow was field trip day and it may have well been Jesus’ second coming, the way he talked about it. The world is perfect on field trip day.

As he describes it:

“It’s probably the best day of my life!! We aren’t even doing real work in school!! We just go straight to the zoo AND see all the animals AND party all day… And we have to pack a really cool lunch… And I am gonna find a cheetah and…

YOU ARE COMING WITH ME!!!! YAY, MOM!!!!”

Yeah… I totally committed to the insanity.

I volunteered to sacrifice all that is good and sacred in this world to chase down 5 kindergarteners in the the mass chaos of the Fort Worth Zoo. I am trying to creatively think of ways to put shock collars on all of them, lest one of the littles try and lean too far into the gorilla exhibit… Come to think of it, maybe extra-long rope and an economy-sized wagon to pull them all in would be better?

…Hey, a parent can dream.

As I prepared my heart this morning, pouring over the Bible in my lap and asking God to speak to me, I reflected on my son’s expectation for today: He has never been on a field trip. He only knows what it “could” be. His teacher described to the class what a field trip entailed and he decided it sounded like the greatest thing ever created in the history of mankind.

When you first became a Christ-follower, the whole faith story also sounded like the greatest thing ever created. When you accepted Christ, the world opened up to you. Things even looked different- did you always have that many flowers in your yard?… And are those birds singing outside? When did your trees become sanctuary for multitudes of morning songbirds? …And didn’t your boss used to be a jerk? Why are you strangely empathetic to him now?

Then maybe a few days go by, even weeks, and you forget that fresh feeling. You begin to file Jesus neatly next to “Take Out Trash” and “Pack Lunches.” Your relationship with God and your faith loses its shine and you just assume that this is faith- this dried out, stagnant, ritualistic “to-do” list.

Nice.

You become jaded and stop expecting greatness in your life. I mean really- no one can experience that fresh, like-new conversion every day. It isn’t practical.

 

 

Good thing we don’t serve a practical God.

 

 

We belong to a power higher and bigger than anything we understand! Sure, life gets hard and tragedy knocks us off our feet and on our face, but those are seasons, not the entirety of our faith. God offers us real life and real passion. Excitement. Miracles. Big Moments.

He offers ADVENTURE.

Today can be your BEST DAY EVER. No kidding. And so can tomorrow. And the next day. He offers it to you- it is there to experience every day. All you have to do is receive it. Greet each day with the enthusiasm of a kindergartener on their first field trip- all expectation of something miraculous happening! Keep your eyes open for the wonders of the zoo, experienced with your friends right next to you and discover that life is GOOD.

What if you are facing some tough stuff? There are days when you can barely get out of bed, let alone expect God to work a miracles. In those times, just think about God and say, “…AND YOU ARE COMING WITH ME!” Just like my son is not alone in the expanse of an unfamiliar zoo, you are not alone facing your circumstances alone. NEVER alone. God is right there with you.

“Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual ADVENTURE, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will NEVER give up on you. Never forget that.”

-1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)

Let today be an adventure!! This day, sitting in your cubicle, rocking your newborn, or chasing little bodies around a zoo, is a gift and a chance to LIVE.

Experience the adventure!

Don’t let it pass by!