Oh my friends, I miss you.
You may have noticed my voice has gone somewhat quiet these past few months, the posts coming slower than usual. I have found myself needing to step back and reflect, to spend much more time listening than producing. My purpose has seemed dull and dim. Yet through this feeling of night, I’ve felt happier and freer than I have been in a long time.
Last week I got to spend a week in the Smoky Mountains with some awesome people and it is exactly what my soul needed. I wrote this while staring up at the mountains on our second day. Hope you enjoy.
The smell of mountain air and freedom passed through the open van windows as the comforting twang of Tim McGraw welcomed us to the south. The laundry list of adult responsibilities blurred with each mile marker and carefree car nap while adventure stories optimistically ruminated in the days ahead.
The monotony of the weeks before had been sprinkled with planning messages and hope like a few undiscovered stars in a stormy night sky. With each mix-tape song chosen and car snack announced came another jolt of the impending, unexperienced memories.
The goal of every young professional -to build a life that doesn’t need escaping -hung in the closet next to the neck ties and half-packed suitcases. Perhaps even the sweetest of 9 to 5’s are seduced by all that is good: the call of the mountains and unplanned days, the winding roads and campfire donuts.
As our journey continued, the crowded interstate and modern noise slowly transformed into a racetrack of evergreens and spacious overlooks. Our stomachs leapt in various mixtures of excitement and roller coaster track carsickness as the would be’s and should be’s of a typical Friday further sweetened our easy laughter and witty banter.
Could this be real?
Would our anticipation live up to their mountainous heights?
Does it matter?
Could it be that any adventure, no matter the proportion, is a gift of life? An IV in the trenches? A day that will be remembered and celebrated regardless of its inevitable imperfections?
For today is a day to wander and explore; a day to do as we please. To set down the swords of our daily battles and truly rest.
Perhaps God created us not for turn lanes and cubicles, not for detailed itineraries and brag-able accomplishments; perhaps God created us to wander, to fly to giggle, to anticipate, to step wildly into the unknown. Perhaps we were created for adventure, perhaps we were created for today.
And while we know that all too soon we will retrace our steps with a healthy dose of dread for the lives we left behind, we will return home with a spirit that is filled to the brim with the freedom is desperately craves. A spirit renewed and smiling.
But for now we drink in the paradise of hammocks and campfire smoke and thank the heavens for a God whose love is greater than the mountains we gaze up at. We thank him for friends to journey with and all the characters we encounter along the way. We thank him for creating this adventure, this beautiful moment.
Perhaps we were created for adventure. Perhaps we were created for today.
————————————————————————————
Enjoy this post? Become an email subscriber by entering your email here:
——————————————————————-