Adventure

I'm house-sitting this week, and remembering what a gift it is. A huge wonderful furnished home completely to myself, 3 kitties to cuddle with, force-feed medication, and scoop litter, flowers to water, mail to bring in, dinner to cook and dishes to wash.....all in a day's work, right? But what I REALLY enjoy about house-sitting for this particular family is the time alone. Every time I commit to watching their house, I first think of how it will affect my commute to work and the grocery store. I wonder where I will fill up on gas. I groan as I remember I have to transport half my bathroom, closet, and refrigerator for a week, and then transport back. Then after I am convicted of my utter selfishness, I become very aware of the gift given me. Today I spent awhile in a screened-in porch, enjoying the breezy late afternoon with a book. As an introvert, I crave time alone to recharge my batteries and simply BE. God gives this to me here in abundance.

One of the books I was reading today is borrowed. It's from a woman who believes in marking what jumped out at her and writing notes in the margins. As I read these used books, I do my best to ignore what is marked so I will have my own "jumped out at me" moments. However, I noticed this little reaction in myself today that I want to make a note of:

This woman had written 3 simple words at the top of the page in regards to Ephesians 1: "Paul knew something...." Immediately I perked up, sat up straight, adjusted myself in the chair and peered very intently at the page. Yes, even my heart rate increased. What did Paul know? What did he realize? What's the secret? Where did he find this knowledge? How can I get it? I want to be on the inside track too! All these thoughts bounced through my head in a matter of minutes. Sadly, my first reaction was to look for other notes written by this woman. What else had she noticed about Paul? What other insights could she have given me? After a few minutes I gave up looking at her notes and went back to the text, which led me directly into Ephesians 1, and to my discovery of the moment. First, I can never depend on another to enlighten the eyes of my heart like the Holy Spirit of God can. No one else should have that role. Knowledge of God comes from knowledge of His Word. Secondly, I became aware of my great desire for adventure. I don't mean cliff-diving, white-water rafting, mountain-climbing adventure (although those are high on my priority list!). I'm talking about having inside knowledge, holding the secrets of the kingdom, learning great mysteries held back from the wise and revealed to the simple, wielding spiritual weapons and engaging in battle, being called to an adventure and story that is far beyond myself.....far bigger than I can even see. There is a battle waging around us every day. The vast majority of the army of the living God are blinded and held in captivity. Time is so short. The end is near. God is raising up His people in the last days. There will less and less gray areas and more black and white. Sides are being chosen. All this and more is for a greater Purpose, a greater Call, an Adventure that is not for the faint of heart or lukewarm. We each have the choice to engage or retreat; to join the ranks or pretend the battle doesn't exit.

Tell me: what tops this? Is there a greater Adventure? What will you be doing with your life? What purpose does it fulfill? Or, perhaps a better question is this: what do you live for? What do you serve, bow down to, work towards, drive all your passion and energy towards? What makes you get out of bed each day? What would you like said about you at the end of your life?

I think the answers to these questions, whether you are able to speak them or are simply aware of the nudges you feel deep inside, give great insight into your priorities and how you live your life. Personally, I want to make a difference. I want to be involved in something greater than my own plans. I would argue that this desire of true purpose is in every human being. You may have to dig through a ton of junk before you find it. I truly believe it is there, and that you were created for a specific purpose in this Story that no one else can fulfill. Your first task is to meet and begin to know the Author of the Story. He wrote the story, set the characters, created their roles even before the world was founded, and knows the end from the beginning. He is the only one who can tell us what our role is. His advice is the one that can be trusted. I'm going to Jesus Christ for my role assignment, and I am eager for a life of amazing adventure. No, it probably won't look anything like I would have planned it. Experience has taught me that my own decisions made without God's input are terrible.

Here's my final thought: All we can see is the present moment. All I have is now. I have a couple choices of how I can walk. I would prefer to walk in the present, not seeing anything but the next step in front of me, because I am being led by the One who sees where I have been, where I am going, and every single step on the path. All I have is now. How am I living it?