In Going To Extremes: Adventures In Unknown NewZealand, written by my friend and fishing guide Derek Grzelewski, he writes “‘Extreme’ has become a much overused, almost meaningless word these days, and combined with an epidemic of celebrity worship, reinforces the idea that any ‘going to extremes’ is surely the domain of the others – the greats – and never ourselves. Yet the extreme is a highly relative concept. To a Himalayan guide, climbing Mount Everest again maybe all in a day’s work, but for someone recovering from a heart attack even a short jog can be an extreme effort… The most extreme adventures and heroic deeds often happen in our daily lives, unacknowledged and out of sight… Even if our perceptions of what is extreme vary widely, we all innately sense that, if only from time to time, we need to enter this state beyond the comfort zone and, further still, to venture to the edge of what we consider possible. Why? Because the extreme is where life is lived to its fullest… It is where growth occurs… It is where the vibrancy of life is refreshed and rediscovered, where we find inspiration and new directions – nourishment for the soul – and we need these as much as we need food, water and air, if not more. There, as we test ourselves in the recurring baptisms of fire, the mundane and the false drop away and only what’s real and true is left to shine… Our journeys will differ – like fingerprints, no two are the same – but one thing we can be absolutely sure about is that, whether we want them or not, life already has adventures planned for us, and some of them will be extreme… It has been my direct experience that, it is better to enter the world of adventures voluntarily. This makes for a smoother journey, more engaging and less accidental.”
As I have enjoyed reading and reflecting over the past three days in Nelson, Motueka, Mapua, and especially Kaiteriteri… I agree with Derek’s thoughtful reflections stated above. My thoughts, are that we can constantly try to live safely, avoiding life’s adventures and sufferings, disappointed when life does not give us what we want; Or, we can voluntarily experience life with God, embracing the truth that life is not always safe, and is full of adventures in joy and in suffering. In Romans 8:18-19, the Apostle Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” Truth be told, God cares more about refining our character in Christ, towards the glory that is to be revealed to us, than He does about our comfort and safety. So while we eagerly long for the day of redemption when God will make all things right, why not live in this world of spiritual growth voluntarily, knowing full well that these adventures (which often include suffering) are given as gifts to refine us in these recurring baptisms of fire? Are you voluntarily open to the adventures God has for you?
A shout out to Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park – While in Kaiteriteri, I rode 57 miles on the sweetest singletrack I have ever ridden. It has been great touring on a mountain bike, because when I hit gems like this, I can enjoy riding them…