What’s on your Bucket List?

Did you know that…

• South Africa has a population of 50 million people
• There are 11 official languages
• Nearly half of the world’s gold is produced in South Africa
• Kruger National Park is the most visited National Park on the entire continent of Africa
• Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world
• South Africa has its very own penguin colony, thanks to the cold Atlantic currents from Antarctica.
• The oldest remains of modern humans were discovered in South Africa, dating back nearly 100,000 years.

As an instructor at Eastern Kentucky University, one of the first assignments I give to my students is to create a bucket list.  If you’re not familiar with it, a bucket list is a list of things you want to accomplish before you, well, kick the ‘ole bucket.  It’s amazing how much passion such a list can ignite in your heart!  A passion for adventure, travel, and desire to see and do things others have only dreamed of!  Since arriving in South Africa, I have been as adventurous as a young Tom Sawyer rafting down the mighty Mississippi River.  I have had the most amazing opportunities that I couldn’t have experienced anywhere else in the world and have managed to cross off three, I said THREE, bucket list items in just 5 weeks!

# 1  Go on an African Safari

I spent 2 days in Kruger National Park, driving around and seeing the wildlife.  Kruger National Park supports the greatest variety of wildlife on the entire African continent including: giraffes, elephants, hippos, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, monkeys, and so much more!  We were able to cruise around in our rented mini vans and see elephants, hippos, giraffes, and…tourists?

#2  Dive with Great White Sharks

You may wonder who in their right mind would ever get into the water with a Great White Shark.  Your answer…THIS guy!!  A team and myself ventured off the coast of Cape Town in an area known as Shark Alley, appropriately named for the population of Great White Sharks that lurk deep within its waters.  This area has more Great White Sharks than anywhere in the World.  Of the 100 plus annual shark attacks reported worldwide, nearly one half of those are from Great Whites!  During our Jaws expedition, we were fortunate enough to see a total of 7 different Great White Sharks that were thrashing, jumping, and eating their way into our hearts (figuratively speaking of course).  These magnificent and often feared creatures are actually quite docile, graceful, and…you guessed it…HUNGRY!! 

#3  Pet a giraffe and/or lion cub

As a kid I grew up wanting to be a zookeeper (or pooper scooper depending on your level of optimism) so when I got the chance to get into a cage with baby lions I took it!  You also can’t pass up a chance to pet the world’s tallest animal!

I don’t have a bucket list to be a dreamer, I have it to be a doer! You see, I’m not writing this blog to brag, I’m writing it to inspire!  So many people think “I’ll never be able to do this,” or “There’s no way I could ever do that!”  My question is, why can’t you do all of those things that you’ve ever wanted to do?!?  So many people sit around and wait for life to surprise them when we should be the ones that are out surprising life! There’s no difference between you and I.  Nobody in my family has ever won the lottery as I’ve been taught the value of working hard and I’ve worked even harder to raise support for this trip. I see someone who has been to the moon and think, “yep, I could do that one day!”  Some people may laugh but I just use it as motivation for another check mark on my list.  Heck, who would’ve ever thought I would get into a cage with a Great White shark while traveling to over 11 countries in 11 months?  Dreams don’t happen by chance – they happen by hard work, determination, passion, and a faithful and loving Savior. 

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE and have it to the FULL!”  The message says that Jesus came so that we can have a REAL life, more and better life than we could have ever dreamed of!  Did you catch that??  Jesus came not only to take you to heaven, but so you could actually enjoy your life right here on earth!  Please, whatever you do – don’t waste your life.  Don’t get to the end of your life and have an empty bucket list that has only turned into regrets.  Go to heaven saying, “Ok, Lord I used everything you ever gave me and I had the most spectacular life I could have ever dreamed of!”  It doesn’t matter how young or old you are – the fact is, you’re still breathing this moment for a reason.  God has so much for you to go out and experience that you won’t even be able to wrap your mind around.  Go out there and walk into everything that God has in store for you!  He’s trying to write your story, you just have to hand over the pen.