Inquisitive Adventures

“There are seasons when the most faithful thing you can do is remain.”

— Morgan Harper Nichols

My current season in life doesn’t look very exciting. I find myself in the midst of a transition season. My life has consisted of showing up, so when change comes, everything is prepared. This kind of season leaves little room for big adventures like traveling to far-off places. 

        Two parts of myself are at odds with each other. There is a part of me that craves a slower pace of life, and another that yearns for spontaneity, creativity, and new experiences. It is this latter part that has been most neglected, and I’m slowly working toward a time when I can be freer to pursue those desires. Learning to allow these two parts of myself accept each other hasn’t been simple.

 There is tension in longing for adventure, yet knowing you need rest and to stay where you are until it’s time to move on. Our culture glorifies constant doing and can define adventure in extremes. We can accumulate experiences like we can material objects – always chasing the next thing.

 When nothing appears to be changing, there is sacredness in remaining. Adventure isn’t always found in movement; sometimes it’s discovered through faithfulness. Remaining is not stagnation. We live in a very distracted world; ordinary moments are not empty. There is healing in being present.

Adventure does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful. It can be discovered or cultivated right where we are, in whatever season we find ourselves. It may look like exploring the state we live in, creating more mindful moments, whether it’s savoring a favorite warm drink at the end of the day or just sitting and soaking in silence. Lately, this is how I’ve been practicing adventure: learning new hobbies, enjoying slow mornings, and restarting my creative pursuits.

What are the ways you’re discovering adventure in the ordinary?