Yes, that first photo here is ME -- on a zip line! Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing!" She proved that as she overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians, fully embracing the adventures of life.
Adventures begin right from the womb. Infants soon become crawlers getting into everything. Toddlers figure out how to get out of their baby cribs. We'll even find them climbing pantry shelves. They live "on the edge"! Somehow, they survive those adventures, even though they'll get a few bumps and bruises along the way!
They are secure in their risk taking. Where did that confidence come from? They went from crawling to being confident enough to walk because they had family members who coaxed them, trained them, and who said over and over "You can do this!" They became more and more confident, and now there's no end to their grand, daring adventures.
Speaking of grand adventures, I’m here in Austin again with my two youngest grandsons. Creativity and adventure seem to be their mode of operation. I saw 10 bags (numbered 1 to 10) on the kitchen counter – with something in each one. Brennan (the 13-year old) commenced to set up a table outside and placed the bags on the table. He had the camera set up on a tripod because the Brennan “Challenge Your Bro” Show was about to be videoed. Oh the creativity and adventure of the young!
First, each boy picked 5 bags, and whatever was in the bag had to be poured into a bowl. Bryson (the 10 year old), opened his bags that included syrup, Cheetos, Catalina dressing, vinegar, and ketchup. Brennan’s was Hershey chocolate, mustard, honey, tomato soup and peanut butter
After pouring some of each into their bowls, they took their concoctions into the house and it was blending and tasting time -- 5 sips each. Oh my! I was thoroughly entertained by these boys and their epic, creative adventure that was filled with crazy antics, lots of gagging and uncontrollable laughter and fun.
Oh, but that adventure wasn’t enough – then the Brennan “Challenge Your Bro” Show included the “Bro” challenge of pumpkin carving. Both of his shows are soon to be on his YouTube channel. I was amazed as I watched him him spend hours on perfecting his video -- researching on Google how to add emojis and intros to it. He’s a self-taught producer.
Oh the places he will go because of that adventurous spirit. I was the judge and determined I couldn't choose a First Place Winner. After all, I am Nana which means I'm impartial. Besides, they were both too good, so Brennan said, "Let's do it the man way! Rock, paper scissors!" Bryson won! LOL!
I still want to live with that mindset of living out-loud, and being adventure bound. It doesn't take much to talk ourselves out of challenging ourselves and only seeking a comfort zone that makes us feel warm and fuzzy, but doesn’t help us stay alive to all the possibilities that this life holds.
We can know that kind of confidence -- whether we're taking a risk, or simply endeavoring to conquer a challenging situation that we may be in. God is coaxing us, telling us "You can do this!" I'm talking about putting our trust in God -- so much so -- that He becomes our safety harness and our security.
Sure, some of those risks present some bumps and bruises and some may even make us want to throw up – like my boys with their concoctions yesterday, but when we are confident in His ability and His ever watchful eye on us, we will go at it again and risk living life to the fullest, becoming like little kids and having some grand adventures.
In the great words of Dr Suess (from his "Oh the Places You Will Go")....
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai, Ali, Van, Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
SO....GET ON YOUR WAY!
