Helen Keller Teaches Us to be Adventurous
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. ”
Helen Keller defined the Judeo-Christian tradition in a single sentence. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." You cannot read the Bible without feeling the struggles therein. Keller tapped into this struggle with her use of the term "adventure." "Adventure" is defined as "an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous experience or activity." Throughout Scripture, people find and rely on their faith through life's hazardous moments.
Amid the long, arduous journey from slavery in Egypt, through the desert, to an unknown Promised Land, the people lost sight of the adventure. Instead, they focused despairingly on the seemingly unending hazards. People like Aaron gave up on the One God and made an idol in the form of a golden calf. Life's adventures become hazards when one stops trusting God's guidance in our journey to the Promised Land.
God filled the Apostle Paul's life with adventures. From the moment God knocked him off his horse, his life never slowed down. He knew betrayal by the churches he supported and incarceration by the Empire, where he was a citizen, but God remained loyal. It wasn't despite Paul's challenges, but because of his hazardous life, that Paul made a lasting difference. Paul could have cursed his horse and walked away from a hazardous life, but he would have denied himself, all of us, and God a faithful example.
No matter your age, God gives you the opportunity to live an adventurous life. When you get up and get out into the world, you are giving God the chance to put life-changing adventures in your path. Sure, some moments may feel hazardous, but your life will be meaningful and occasionally take your breath away. A joyous life is one where you know you are living the life God intends for you. You cannot do it from your living room sofa. In this era, when many people have disengaged from churches and other organizations, there is a corresponding rise in isolation and despair. God is calling us to step into life's adventures, weather the hazards, and make a difference. You will experience a greater sense of meaning, and God will bring wholeness to your life.
