"To die would be a great adventure!"

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"To die would be a great adventure!"

Hopefully I don't need to remind you who said this glorious line! Sadly, it was the late great Robin Williams in the greatest depiction of Peter Pan ever created. Hook! Speaking of the Captain, Dustin Hoffman replies to this comment, "Death is the only adventure you have left." Whew. That's "heavy", as Marty McFly would say. I better be careful here or I'm going to use up all my good 80's references. I'm kidding. I'll never run out of those.

Listen, do you sometimes feel death is the only great adventure you have left? I tell ya, I'm 40 and some days it feels like my only purpose now is to create a good life for my kids. But that's not right is it? My story isn't done yet either. And while that does largely include the adventure with my awesome offspring, I cannot accept God is done with me. Now I have Sylvester Stallone as Rocky echoing in my head. Not everybody loves it, but the last installment of the sans Apollo jr. movies has perhaps one of the greatest Dad talks of all time. Let me set it up for you.

In Rocky Balboa, his son confronts him with his embarrassment. Rocky had decided to fight again against the current champ. It sounds ridiculous, but he was a bit out of shape, so it made it more believable. In any case, now college aged Robert tries desperately to talk his Dad out of embarrassing himself... and him. Here's an excerpt from Rocky's response.

"...the world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, and nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Another scene, at the butcher shop (very fitting), with the surly cousin Paulie, they discuss why Rock is feeling a bit... outta sorts. Here's the scene...

P: "What? You haven't peaked yet?"

R: "I dunno. There's still some stuff in the basement."

P: "What basement?"

R: "In here", motioning to his gut.

P: "Tell me about the stuff."

R: "What about it?"

P: "Tell me about the stuff inside. Is it angry? Are you mad because Adrien left you?"

R: "She didn't leave, Paulie. She died."

P: Seeing he upset Rocky and back peddling, "Ok. Ok ok."

R: Choking on his words a bit, "You know some... sometimes it's hard to breath. I feel like there's this... beast inside me."

P: "It's ok Rocko. Please, it's ok."

R: "Is it? Ok? I just never knew it was supposed to be this hard. It wasn't supposed to be like this Paulie, you know? ...."

Then after getting himself together, Rocky invites Paulie to come help him train. He can't, but it ends in a sweet way their talks don't normally end. Paulie clearly cares for Rocky and shows genuine concern. It only took 6 movies, 30 years, and his sister dying to finally treat Rocky with a little kindness. One more...

Rewind a bit. I believe it was the first movie. Mick is giving an inspirational speech to Rocky. He says this...

"My God, Rock, you're ready ain't ya? That Apollo won't know what hit him! You're gonna roll over him like a bulldozer. And Italian bulldozer! You know kid, I know how you feel about this fight that's comin' up... because I was young once too. And I tell ya something. If you wasn't here, I probably wouldn't be alive today. The fact that you're here and doing as well as you're doing gives me... what do you call it ...a 'motivization?' Huh? To stay alive? Cause I think that people die sometimes when they don't wanna live no more. And nature is smarter than people think. Little by little we lose our friends, we lose everything, we keep losing and losing til we say... you know, what the hell am I living around here for? I got no reason to go on. But with you kid... boy, I got a reason to go on."

Skipping a few lines he gives Rocky his golden gloves chain pendant and says,

"It's gonna be like an angel on your shoulder. And if you ever get hoit ("hurt"), and you feel that you're going down... this little angel is gonna whisper in your ear, and he's gonna say, "GET UP you son of a bitch! ...cause Mickey loves ya." Man, that's powerful.

So what am I trying to illustrate here? Death may be a great adventure. And we know we have a more glorious place awaiting us on the other side. But is that all that's left? Our bodies may be past their prime. Our minds may not even be as sharp as they once were. But we have gathered so much information and wisdom. How is it we're no longer relevant when we finally know what the heck we're talking about? You've heard the verse, "Don't let anyone look down on you for your youth"? (1 Tim. 4:12). Well, these days we need to realize no on should look down us for our aging either. Did you read the second half of that verse? "...but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example to those who believe." So this is awesome for a couple reasons. First, I don't know many 20 somethings grabbing hold of these virtues these days. And second, the purpose of this character development is to be an example to others who follow God! It's not a 'be a light to the world' thing. It's a 'help each other' thing!

As Robert the Bruce said in Braveheart, when finally confronting his father, "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HEART!" In an act of self-preservation (and I mean title and land), he betrays William Wallace (Mel Gibson) on the battle field. He even considers killing him, until Wallace gets the better of him, rips off his helmet and sees his face. Wallace drops to the ground, and with tear filled disbelief, would have likely let Bruce kill him right then and there.

You see, 2 things were at play here. Number one, Wallace was convincing all of Scotland to fight the British for their freedom, and Robert forsook this purpose. The other, his 'brother' betrayed him. This is a death in itself.

When I took a job in Maryland, it was the first time I had moved somewhere without a core few who already knew me well. The concept of not being among the most valuable to another dude crushed me. I've said before I fell into a depression and started drinking... in secret... often. I even visited my old roommates in Tallahassee to express to them through tears my fear of losing them. This felt like a type of death to me. Just the idea of drifting apart, from those I had built such strong relationships with for years, seemed to deplete me of everything in the tank. It was like walking through every day with that pit in your stomach you get on the big dips on roller coasters. It was heavy. It was pain.

So may you know who you are so well by now that you recognize what's in the basement. Spend time listening to God and a few you trust completely. Even just one who can help you see what your place is now would help tremendously. If you don't have that person, God will tell you. But you need to take time to listen. And He will bring you battle buddies if you truly ask Him to.

Here's a point I'd be remiss if I didn't share: Stop believing the lie that you're supposed to be a "nice guy". This point (and maybe this whole article) is geared more toward men. Being a "Safe Place" as you've heard me mention before, does not mean being "nice." It means being safe for others, not docile with all your adventure sucked out by the church routine. And it also doesn't only mean going to other countries to build houses for the needy, or going hunting, rock climbing or running a half marathon. Though, these can be considered fruit of an adventurous heart. Again, your wife and kids need to trust you're a man of your word who will protect them and be true to your responsibilities. This is your "hunting and gathering" for the 21st century... unless you're in the military. If you don‘t have a family, you actually have more time to do this for others as well. But just as Jesus freed us from the Law and placed us under Grace, following it with the fact our "struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Eph. 6), so to must we fight for our hearts' flame to burn on.

Consider C.S. Lewis’s Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. When Lucy inquires with the beavers about Asland (the lion and Christ figure), she asks if he’s safe. “Safe?“ said Mr. Beaver. ”Oh no. But he is good.”

May you continue to fight for the adventure within to live wild and free! May you fight with others to remove their masks, expose what's down in the basement, and live an authentic life... not giving into pretense and role playing. Fine. Wear the polo to church. Go to some functions. But outside of those walls, and hopefully in, know that your battle is "against the spiritual forces of darkness", "which wage war against your soul". (1 Pet. 2:11). You are 007 for Jesus. You are William Wallace, waking up the church and shouting, "We are under attack!" And anytime you feel you're being encouraged to quench your heart, may you scream, "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HEART!" I don't recommend implementing this intensity if you want a hearing. Remember, the church has grown fearful of the man with emotions. Play the long game. Infect them with your passion and zeal for authentic relationships. And maybe, you might actually see your city changed! "They will know Him by how you love each other." (John 13:35).

You are not done. He is not done with you. Ask Him what's next. Be patient. And when the time is right, go out and find your "great adventure".

And this is my boxless view in a nutshell.

James went to KU for Psychology

and is an entrepreneur owning three small businesses;

Two in the wedding industry, and one in custom furniture building.

In addition, James is also a hobbyist

as a musician, voice-over artist, and blogger on the side.

Ultimately, he lives for his family and

making Christ known as the compassionate Savior He is.