It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre
What type of books did you enjoy as a child? For myself, adventures and romance were my favourites - life without either of those two ingredients to me seemed dull. For Marigold Cottage, adventure is afoot. Adventure was our finale to 2010. Adventure has been our introduction to 2011.
Adventure
an enterprise of hazard; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events.
To risk, or hazard; to put in the power of unforeseen events, as to adventure one's life.
Romance
A tale of extraordinary adventures, fictitious and often extravagant, usually a tale of love or war, subjects interesting the sensibilities of the heart, or the passions of wonder and curiosity. It vaults or soars beyond the limits of fact and real life, and often of probability.
How does it work when adventure meets real life? Adventure shows itself in many forms - sometimes it is exciting and thrilling, othertimes dangerous and terrifying. Moving into and renovating a new house can be an adventure. A trip overseas can be an adventure. Can a natural disaster be an adventure?
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| Our Backyard |
Before Christmas we moved into a new home - a new part of our life as a family was opening up before us. This house has a sad story of family breakup and neglect. As we began peeling back the layers of dirt, dust and neglect, I realised we were clearing out all the unloveliness this house has ever seen, and restoring. Filling it walls and gardens with children's voices and play, with stories and laughter - and tears when we fall out of trees, or discover some deeper problems with the house. But we will work hard. We will sing and pray and praise God for His provision. And hopefully this little house will see happy days in its future, and it will look better for it.
Another part of this adventure, is that we are now living with my husband's parents. Something our culture does not do, generally. Multi-generational living on one property. Our children have the benefit of grandparents at close range. I have the benefit of an older woman who knows a lot about fruit trees and chickens and all sorts of things to learn from and live with. My husband has the benefit of having his Dad around to work alongside (certainly helps when the mowing takes 1-2 hours!!!!). Another step into the unkown.
And then we packed and planned for leaving our children, and heading to Uganda. We thought that would be an adventure - and it was. But in all our plans, we had not prepared for the fact that one night we would be sitting in a restaurant in Gulu, Northern Uganda - watching a natural disaster unfold before our very eyes, in our own homeland. Having the church in a third world country praying alongside us for our families and homes back in Australia. And I was reminded again that we do not know what tomorrow brings. This knowledge does not need to bring fear - because we have a God we can trust with all our tomorrows, no matter what they hold.
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| A Music Lesson with Grace & Dennis |
Life is tough. But in the ashes, beauty can emerge again. Even in the midst of terrible war, poverty and darkness a light can shine. People can be kind. And God is always at work, calling a people to Himself and caring for them, providing for them - in Uganda, in Australia. Something I had not expected to bring home from Uganda was a sense of hope. But I did.
And now we are home again. And our adventure for 2011, here at home, begins in ernest. My friends it is good to be home.
"Adventurer" -- he that goes out to meet whatever may come. Well, that is what we all do in the world one way or another . . . H.Rider Haggard
4 comments:
Without the spirit of adventure life would be grindingly boring.
It is lovely tohear of your multi generational living arrangements. Will this be long term? I think our society has become very selfish and as you so there is much to be gained from pulling together. Your children will be richly blessed. I've had my daughter here for a month with her children. It has been such a blessing!
May all your adventurers be memorable ones in 2011!
Sounds like you are still processing your trip but it is so wonderful that you came home feeling hope! One thing I have seen in stories coming out of Uganda is that God is good at restoration :-)
Thankyou Ruby - I am certain they will be. Our new multi-generational living arrangements are permanent. It does change the family dynamics a little - but it is lovely all being together. It helps too that we have an acre to share, so we are not crowded on top of each other either.
Caz, God is very good at restoration. When I saw what was happening in Uganda, and I know that only God can bring about that kind of restoration in such a short space of time - I cannot help but give thanks. Yes, I am still processing our trip - so much happened in such a short space of time. But in one way it is nice to be home, and to be able to quietly think back over things one thing at a time.
What a great post! You are probably familiar with that great Chesterton quote from "On Running After One's Hat": "An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered."
Adventure and romance doesn't mean that things never become difficult--it means that when things do become difficult, you keep a high heart. But of course you know that already ;)
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