I Love An Adventure

I love an adventure.  When I was growing up part of a family of 7, I craved spending time with my dad.  My fantasy was to be with him; just he and I, walking and talking -- No place to be, and no chores to do --  Just he and I, walking.  The adventure part was in the fact that this almost never happened.  With 5 children within 10 years, my folks were always on the go!  In our predominantly Catholic neighborhood, we were known as the passionate Protestants.

An adventure is when the excitement we crave is met in the moments we discover.  Glimmers of hope for adventure came for me when we would roughhouse with dad after he got home from work each night.  He’d kiss my mom, changed his clothes and roughhouse with us before dinner.  This was OUR time with dad, and we LOVED it!  Hearts pounding, sweat pouring and arms and legs squirming -- a “dog pile” of kids, LOVE, and dad.

Adventures are unpredictable.  Occasionally, a “dog pile” would get too heavy, the fun a bit rough or an elbow would hit a tender spot.  Tears would erupt from the happy mound.  In the fun of the moment a breathy timeout would be called to discover the wounded one, and make amends.  Sometimes it would be a false alarm, just to get on top again and the fun would resume, other times real tears would be met with genuine hugs and pats from all to comfort and assure -- a blessing, and wash up before dinner! 

I learned for this, that real adventures involve real risk.  I might get hurt.  I might become emotionally exposed.  I might unintentionally hurt someone else. As I got older, my adventures changed.  Some still involved my father -- hunting and hiking, projects together and hard work.  Still other adventures involved risks taken in the company of others.  I remember on a High school UMYF mission trip to Browning Montana, when I was asked by a homeless man to buy him some beer.  I didn’t think beer was such a good idea, but PB&J sounded pretty good to me.  I could always eat.  I told my leader where I was going, went with the man to the grocery, and sat with him for an impromptu lunch.  This was a different sort of adventure, I suppose, but everything I know has been different from that day; my appreciation for ALL people, my path, my calling, my very own heart!

Sitting with that man, I discovered that: Adventures in our lives promise in proportion to our trust.   Can I trust God with my future?  Can I learn to allow things to unfold at their own pace?  Will I be able to enjoy the moment (by trusting in God’s timing) or will I rush past on my way to something I thought was more important? 

Coming to Boulder Mountain View is, indeed, an unpredictable ADVENTURE for the both of us; Congregation and Pastor.  During this time of transition, let us aim higher than merely a season of suspended judgment of one another.  Let us aim for a bit of risk and true adventure, a bit of love and a lot of trust in God.

After all; who knows wherever God will lead us?

Best,

Steve

Wherever God Leads Us

 A friend and collegue of mine reminded me when I was talking about doing a blog that I said that blogging was a sign that a person didn't have a real life...Well, here goes.

I don't want to substitute a real life for a virtual one, but I do want to reach out to anyone who is asking questions about their faith, and wanting to reflect on possible answers.  I'm hoping that Blogger has spell check (invented personally for me) and can be a place where we can reveal some of our inner spiritual life and Joy.

I am about to launch  a new enterprise with Boulder Mountain View United Methodist Church, as their Senior Pastor.  As I have before, I hope to build lasting and meaningful friendships, share our love for God, and help lead that sacred community forward in thier mission in Jesus Christ.  I pray that I am up to the task, and ask you to pray for me, too.  That's where I think all great enterprizes begin, and all great successes are to be found, "Together, before God, on our knees."

Whereever God Leads Us will be that kind of experience; one which hopefully draws us out of ourselves and our comfortable places and into God's bright and challenging light.

May it be so!

Pastor Steve Warren