adventure-ing. . . . at least i thought so.

so i don't know if my definition of adventure adds up to the same as other peoples. my conclusion is based of the pictures. i googled "adventure" and these are the very first two pictures that come up for the search. my idea of adventure would not compete with theirs.

my mindset is picturing someone in an Indiana Jones hat walking through a forest, experiencing all of the new surroundings, slowly excavating his path through the tight, choking brush, so to be careful not to disturb the life around him. it isn't as nearly as threatening as these pictures show. they show a man flying the skies hundreds of feet in the air, or the other, where a group of people fight the bitter freezing temperatures and most likely fierce winds in order to reach the pinnacle of the mount.

is my sense of adventure correct? should their be that much risk involved in an "adventure?" i understand risk and that it is need to accomplish great things, but in my mind, the adventure part came well separate from that part. i do have to say, i was decently shocked. i don't mind being wrong, i actually welcome it, but i just don't expect to be misled on simple definitions or characteristics. it seems i am missing a crucial part of the adventure.

risking something as so precious as your very life gives new meaning to "adventure." not that they are whimsically throwing their life into death's face, but they understand the importance of continuing to live. a quote i recently heard in a movie called the Kingdom (if you haven't watched it, WATCH IT NOW!!! stop reading this and go rent it, it's amazing!), the FBI director is being scrutinized by the Attorney General for actions that he decided to do and the wake from what his team members did. he drew on his experience on his time while being in the marines:

"You know, Westmoreland made all of us officers write our own obituaries during Tet, when we thought The Cong were gonna end it all right there. And, once we clued into the fact that life is finite, the thought of losing it didn't scare us anymore. The end comes no matter what, the only thing that matters is how do you wanna go out, on your feet or on your knees? I bring that lesson to this job. I act, knowing that someday this job will end, no matter what. You should do the same."

it seems adventure comes with this sense of understanding of the TRUE value of life, not that we throw our lives away in the midst of hazardous ventures, but that we do it because of our frailties. what better examples of this stem from not simple picturesque examples, but in the story of Jesus' life on earth. many times he knew the full scope of what He spoke and what He did on earth, even so much to the point where He sweated blood because it troubled Him so, but the story is meaningful because He did it anyway. i want to be like Him because i know how frail and broken my life is, but to risk it in spite of that brings me closer to His example.

God fill these empty bones.