Piloting Faith: Wisdom from the Galapagos...
A Word for the Day...
I have just returned from an extraordinary adventure in the Galapagos Islands. Our organization has partnered with the travel odyssey company, Tumbuh, to host trips across the world. This was our maiden voyage together with 20 fellow travelers and author, Brian McLaren. Brian has just written a book about the Galapagos Islands, giving us the perfect excuse to plan the trip.
You get to know people well when we spend 10 days together in an intense environment. Some of the participants on the trip had recently lost a spouse. Others just needed to get away. Many knew someone on the trip and came to be in community.
One afternoon as we were on a two-hour boat ride from San Cristobal Island to Santa Cruz, I had the chance to talk to a wonderful woman named Donnie. She had lost her husband suddenly and far too young from an aneurysm. She missed him every single day.
As she talked about rebuilding her life, she said, "We've now decided in our family that there is no more 'some day.' If we want to do something, we make it happen today. Life is too short and time is not guaranteed."
I thought about the list of experiences on my "some day" list. I thought about the conversations I have with my spouse about the things we want to do together "some day." In hearing Donnie's story, I realize that I am robbing myself of the life I actually want to live. Why would I wait to do the things I want to do when I can do them now? "Some day" is not guaranteed.
As we begin 2020, I invite you to consider what is on your "some day" list and start making concrete plans to make them happen. Let's live life on purpose, cherishing every precious moment we have on this beautiful planet and with the people we love.
- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight
Prayer for the Week
Loving God,
Grant me a life of grand adventure, one where I feel the rush of accomplishment, face the fears of failure, meet wonderful mentors along the way, and discover strength in myself I never dreamed possible. I want to live a brave and beautiful life, one guided and inspired by You, so that in the end I might hear your blessing, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’
Amen.
