Yesterday, one of my life goals was accomplished. For a few years now, climbing Half Dome in California has been on the life goals list. Its not super dangerous or anything, but its a mountain that does take some courage and people from all around the world visit Yosemite to take on. And yesterday, I took Half Dome down!
(Starting out our adventure!)
Just getting home from the World Race, then taking on Half Dome, I have been thinking about the adventure I just went on and the one I am about to take on. The rest of my life. And one thing I try to keep in mind: Ecclesiastes says that whatever you do, you should eat, drink and enjoy the short life God has given you (Ecc. 8:15). And along those lines, I am reminded from Paul's letter to the Ephesian's about passions in life. In chapter 4, Paul is talking to the Ephesian's about the things the people in their community were doing that were making them angry. All the things that annoyed them and were not the way the Ephesian's thought it should be done. And Paul responds to them in verse 26 and says this: "Be angry and do not sin. Dont let the sun go down on your anger."
Most people use this passage to say its okay to be angry, as long as you dont sin. And while that's true, I think it goes much deeper. Paul is telling the Ephesian's to take the passion they had for the right things in life, those things that brought glory to God's kingdom, and do something about it. Its okay to be angry about it, but use that passion for His Kingdom to show them the right way: love. And dont let the sun go down on your passion.
I dont know about you, but when I go to bed angry, often times I wake up with a new take. Im no longer angry, and life is good again. So when Paul is telling them to not let the sun go down on their anger, I think he is telling them to do something about it before you lose that passion. Dont wait until you overlook the things being done, and you forget about it. Dont wait until the things being done become "just normal". Do something! Anything!
And conquering Half Dome yesterday brought all these thoughts together. Half Dome has been a passion of mine. And my dad's and my cousin Drew(all of us who did it yesterday). And I learned yesterday after the hike was over that my dad had no intentions when we left yesterday morning that he would go all the way to the top. My dad doesn't enjoy heights. Neither do I, but him more so than I. So standing at the bottom of quarter dome and again at the bottom of half dome, I could see the nervousness in him and his actions. Standing there staring up at half dome, I saw him take a gulp that only meant "What the heck did I get myself in to? I think I may have just sharted in my pants."
(Starting up Half Dome)
But we did it. The whole thing, all the way to the top! And it turned out to be one of the coolest experiences of our entire lives! All because we decided to say yes to the adventure. And I think our Father likes it when we live life much in the same manner.
(at the top!)
Leaving for the World Race, I had no idea what to expect. But I had a passion and wanted to enjoy what I was doing. So I said yes. Now that I am home from the race, I have no idea what to expect but to say yes to any adventure God throws my way. I think too often in life, we try to overplan life. Proverbs tells us that we can plan, but only God makes those things possible, and that is so true. So what do we do?
I think, like my dad yesterday, we start on an adventure without trying to make any other plans that to say yes to God's promptings. This doesnt mean to not to wise about life and throw every caution to the wind, but dont have too many plans. Take the things that make you "angry", and the things that you enjoy, along with the people you love, start on a journey and say yes to something that fits. This may sound like you are giving up on the American dream, or something everyone else says you should be doing. But, honestly, so what?! Jesus wasnt concerned when He asked His disciples to leave everything and follow Him. Too often we focus on what we are leaving, and not on what we are gaining. And with Him, when we leave everything, we gain more. Thats the beauty of living life on an adventure with Jesus!
(the life worth living can look scary. but then again, if its comfortable, often times its not by faith…)
