Invitation to an Adventure

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Recently I entered a discussion about the desire for adventure.  For some of us, it is such a powerful desire that we will pay good money for "virtual adventure" (and that menu of possibilities is vast).  For others, the equally compelling desire draws us regularly to unknown, spontaneous treks.  We go wherever the wind or the weather blow us.  For still others, standing on the brink of the unknown generates nothing but backward movement -- better to stay with the tried and true... the familiar.  

So far 2012 has been quite an adventure.  I have been walking some new (to me) paths of mind, heart and spirit.  It has been a combination of personal prayer and reflection, blended with exposure to scripture and devotional reading. I have had indepth conversations with my own spiritual director, and spent, literally, hours on end opening myself to God's movement.  I can't tell you how many times I have asked:  "What are you up to, dear Lord?"   It has been both perilous for me (in some ways) and also unbelievably inspiring and liberating.  

I feel strongly and increasingly certain that this is leading to another rather in depth writing project-- and I feel inclined to write in a way that may invite conversation and spiritual community. I have been reading a book about the unspoken but increasing desires of the Body of Christ for spiritual community -- but when what we focus upon, lament or celebrate is our "surface" existence rather than what is really going on, we miss a huge opportunity to see and witness to what God is doing in our midst and in our life together.  

I  believe strongly that what I have experienced is not unique to "Pamela".  I think that every person is given multiple opportunities to enter very adventurous places of the heart, mind and soul.  

I have a dream:  Perhaps I can write something (hopefully during this Lent) that can be used by CRLC and other  folks who feel inclined to embrace the adventure of plunging the interior depths.  It may not appeal to everybody-- but perhaps some!  

I am convinced more than ever that life's adventures are meant to strengthen us to glorify God and serve others in new ways.  It is just that those "adventures" can be so daunting if a person tries to minimize them or go them "alone"... or even worse, pretend they aren't happening.  Whenever a person enters his/her own uncharted territory (we all have them) suddenly new perceptions of both dark and light appear.  Christ is there with us, when we are suffering as well as when we are bursting into new hope.   It is always, always about being drawn into God's amazing and loving heart -- constantly being reshaped, reformed -- made new.  

So... I am inviting you to an adventure, hopefully to begin within the next weeks.  You may want to see it as part of your Lenten Practice -- or perhaps just as a free fall into the depths of your own life! 

 (I will be working to develop either a separate page or a completely new blog for this project -- stay tuned!)