The day was guaranteed to be full of adventure and fun. Nothing would be lacking.
Our guides led us to the top of the 7th waterfall and prepared us for the decent. One by one we jumped or slid down each one.
We laughed and cheered for one another as we took the plunge, leaping off rock ledges into the deep water below. It was perfect.
I was enjoying the people around me, thankful for the chance to connect even more with them.
I glanced around, taking in the beauty—the water, the cliffs, the laughter and smiles. The joy of it all could hardly be contained.
Yet, deep in my heart, I felt a new awareness rising.
An awareness that the wonder of an “off-day” didn’t surpass the wonder of the other days. I was realizing that whatever the day, if God is in it, is a day of fullness.
The day continued. We drove to the beach, placed our meal order and grabbed our chairs to sit in the sun.
I ran into the water with a bunch of my new friends, enjoying the shades of blue and trying to catch waves to body surf.
Back on shore I laid in my chair and pulled out the book I’ve been reading.
“She had been following this strange path simply because it was the Shepherd’s choice for her. It was not the way in which she naturally wanted to go. Now she could make her own choice. Her sorrow and suffering could be ended at once, and she could plan her life in the way she liked best, without the shepherd.
During that awful moment or two it seemed that she was actually looking into an abyss of horror, into an existence in which there was no Shepherd to follow or to trust or to love—no Shepherd at all, nothing but her own horrible self.”
What is life without the Shepherd? The thought of living without Him was utterly terrifying to her, full of emptiness and leaving her void of purpose.
As I read the words, I was able to understand my own heart a little more.
God has faithfully grown my capacity to love Him. His love is freeing me from a life where comfort and satisfaction seems obtainable through earthly things – even the beautiful waterfalls He created.
I got up and walked along to beach. I stopped and stared out over the waves.
“I need to be with You. I want nothing but to love You and do what You ask me.”
Our adventure day was glorious! Full of beauty, excitement, and laughter.
Yet I have found that the truest satisfaction is found as I’m invited into a deeper understanding of my Shepherd and His heart. And that is offered to us everyday.
It’s offered while planning children’s programs, talking with our hosts about the journey of following Jesus, playing basketball with locals, and enjoying community with one another. It’s offered while sliding down waterfalls and frolicking at the beach and laughing with friends.
It is in my nature to choose adventure. I was born to play in the waves, climb mountains, and chase waterfalls. I will continue to say “yes” to adventure because that is how I was created.
I will keep laughing, keep dreaming, and keep exploring.
But I will no longer go chasing after waterfalls with the ignorance of thinking they have something to offer me that the One who created them cannot.
