I’m around a lot of adventurous people. They’re a great group to have as friends. First, their perspective on life is usually one of hope – they believe that there’s always another great trail to hike, another beautiful view to see, another amazing place to watch the sunset or the magnificence of the stars. Second, they dream. Because of what they have already experienced, they are always looking forward and maybe even vicariously living in what they have seen and what they will see next time.
Third, they live life instead of watching it pass by. You don’t accidentally end up in a hammock at 8,000ft. above sea level in Colorado’s Jan Juan Mountains. Their lives are intentional. Fourth, through their intentional lifestyle and their hope, they are very likely to notice and help people in need. Community births more community, and when you’ve experienced the beautiful connection and camaraderie that comes from people out living their best life in the wilderness, it gives you a foundation to be able to reach out and help others find community, too.
Fifth, adventurous people have a high tolerance for the unknown and the unexpected. Their fear level is extremely low because they have found that 1) things usually go better than we might think, 2) they can usually handle what comes, and 3) the unexpected is usually better than what they would have dreamed up anyway.
I could go on, but the benefits of hanging around adventurous people is that you become adventurous, too. Fear levels drop. You are infused with hope. Life itself becomes an adventure. There is a heightened awareness of others’ needs and a desire to help. Dreaming becomes a part of life – and then the dreams begin to come true.
What if we had adventure churches? I don’t mean that the entire congregation goes backpacking, or that everyone treks up to a mountain lake for the church service, as amazing as such things would be. I mean – what if we lived our Christian lives as adventurous as my hiking friends? What kind of community could we create if we were hopeful, dreaming, intentional life-livers who have a high tolerance for the unknown and low fear levels because we know God can take care of whatever might come?
Life with God is better than the best hike. And He is far more adventurous than anything we’ve thought about doing. Living as an adventurous Christian might scare those who are not quite so adventurous, but it will also inspire an entire group of people to live their own adventure with Christ Jesus.
