Never Have I Ever

I’ve never been much of a risk-taker. In school, I always obeyed the rules. I followed a pretty traditional path, and now, my idea of an adventure usually starts and stops with trying an interesting restaurant as long as there is parking. With every year, this tendency doesn’t get any less prominent. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. My wife is quite the opposite, and as our children get older, she imagines lots of adventures on the horizon.

During our summer vacation, I chatted with my eldest daughter, and she excitedly rattled off a million things she wanted to do on and off campus during her upcoming first year of college. While I was excited for her, I quickly said: “You’d never find me there,” or “Good luck with that,” to a few things on her list. While on a walk with the younger two children later that day, they peppered me with ideas for future vacations. Whether it was the prospect of the cost or the accommodations or the activities suggested, most spots were places I said I’d never entertain. “Wow, never? Dad, you need to live a little,” my snarky 9-year-old chided me.

As we continued to walk along the beach, I couldn’t help but think about her challenge. While I could argue the practicalities that made some adventures more challenging than others, what was behind my rapid declaration of “never?” In what other aspects of my life and leadership am I laying down that gauntlet, and more importantly, why? Is it fear? Could it be fear of what it might require of me? What if it is just one aspect I don’t understand or a step that I can’t believe I can take? With the adventures the Lord is inviting me to, am I quick to answer “never” or can I follow the example of our Blessed Mother and ask “how?” With all the “nevers” I offer, am I clear why and do I understand how my responses might affect those I lead and love?

I decided that with my children (and probably with my colleagues too), I need to at least look at the map before dismissing the journey. As we launch the adventure of this new week, let’s be open to all that the Lord might share with us — adventures that we could never ever imagine.