An Unexpected Journey --- What would BILBO do? GO or STAY ???

The Hobbit, the newest installment from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings franchise has this tag line:

"An Unexpected Journey."

It is a fictional story filled with mythical creatures.  The main protagonist is Bilbo, the Hobbit.  Hobbits are comfortable creatures, who enjoy the simple pleasures and comforts of life: smoking a pipe, reading books and eating good food.

Hobbits are not ones for exploring or discovery.

But in this story, Bilbo finds himself on an unexpected journey with a bunch of dwarfs.  At first he is against going on the journey Gandalf wishes for him to be on, but there is a turning point where the excitement of risk and unknown wells up in this Hobbit and he joins the crew.

“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Our lives are unexpected journeys.  Even amidst the so-called mundane and routines of life.

Sometimes we are called on an adventure, perhaps to follow and pursue a dream, like starting a bakery or writing a book... little unexpected journeys.

The crazy thing is, we have a choice while at the same time we don't have a choice.  We never know what the other choice would have been.  We can always say things like, "I wonder what would have happened?"

With anything in life, we are confronted with this option, do we GO or do we STAY?

If we GO, it may not be easy, perhaps scary or risky, full of fearful moments.  We may miss the comforts of our life.  Freeing and liberating with nothing holding us back.

If we STAY, it may be simple and routine, and we can come home each night.  To some it may seem oppressive because of the stability.

Our life is full of unexpected moments.  In fact, every moment can be an unexpected moment of "Going" or "Staying."

It's not whether we GO or STAY, more or less, but rather why we are "going" or "staying?"

Why do we GO on journeys of adventure, or STAY put in the comforts of every day life?

Do people who GO on journeys lead more "fulfilling" and "meaningful" lives in comparison to those who STAY?

I'm in the middle of a book called "Brother Lawrence, practicing the presence of God," and he is a monk who cooked meals and did routine tasks filled with great love.  His whole practice of life was to be continually aware of the presence of the Creator, in every task.  In the tasks of "Going" and of "Staying."

"I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health."  Brother Lawrence

What if we really believed that God is near us on this unexpected journey of life?  We GO when we feel called to go; we STAY when we feel called to stay.  

What if the Creator of the Universe, the One who knows the deepest truths, who loves us so deeply and intimately, is truly alongside of us, giving us direction and hope?  Not walking the steps for us, but whispering in the silence little hints for us to follow, all while longing for our love and affections, only things we can offer when we are aware.  

Any unexpected journey we go on, if we are truly trying to follow God, our hearts will be aligned, so really no matter what we do, whether it is run across the state of Iowa, work in a cubicle, go on an unexpected journey, or stay put and wash dishes, we can find the meaning, purpose and joy out of a love for the Creator.

Sanborn Wrap Up

Our week in Sanborn went by really fast.  

We left Spencer at 11:30am on Tuesday morning (11/27).  We arrived in Sanborn around 5:45p.  

It was a dreary 27-mile running day.  It was cold & windy.  I felt very sluggish due to all the Thanksgiving meals the week before.  However, we endured it, and was very thankful to be in Sanborn.

During our week in Sanborn, I got to SPEAK 19 times.  By far the busiest week on the Awake My Sole journey.  Got to speak at the Christian School, the middle school, the Everly high school, youth group, adult bible studies, and student's bible studies.

The week flew by, and we loved every minute of it.

On Thursday evening, we were able to catch the movie "Rise of the Guardians" in Spencer Iowa, and we loved it.  

To all the people in Sanborn who made our week incredible, we just wanted to say, "Thank You so very much," especially to our wonderful host family.

Some pics from the RUN to Sanborn & time spent in Sanborn

Tuesday morning.  Bundled up & Bright.  

Resting my feet outside of Hartley Iowa.  They were sore after running about 15 miles.  

An awesome windmill pic.  Thought of my friend Roger who restores windmills.  

Sun setting outside of Sanborn.

Wednesday morning at the Christian School in Sanborn.

It was cold in Sanborn on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday evening sunset.

Speaking at the Methodist and RCA youth group.  Lots of fun.  Students were great.  Thanks to Josh for having us come share the AMS story.  

At Everly High School.  This Converse shoe is made out of match sticks.  

pretty neat poster at Everly.

Everly students.  They were awesome.  And yes, I ate the school lunch, it was delicious.  

At the Sanborn Hartley Melvin middle school.  Check out this sweet drawing on the white board. 

Got to share 7 times at the middle school.  Great students and staff.

Sunday evening at the MS and HS youth group in Hartley.  

Parting gifts as we left Sanborn.  Gotta love pickles and diet coke.  Thank you Gary & Julie for hosting us.  We really appreciated you.  

Here is my post from when I was in Sanborn in February

Simplify Your Life Into a Bag

20 days till the AMS journey begins

All of my possessions I will use for a year are on THIS cart.

clothes bag, first aid kit, food kit, computer bag, book bag and CHARLEY

A couple months ago, the movie 180 Degrees South was highly recommended by my brother.  So I watched it on Netflix.

A quote by Yvon Chouinard, stuck with me:

The hardest thing in the world is to simplify your life.  It's so easy to make it complex.   

I agree with Yvon.  It is tough to simplify one's life.  For me, these last couple months have been a struggle:  

What should I bring on a year long trek across Iowa? 

What shouldn't I bring?

All my clothes I will use for a year are in this bag

Button up shirt, short sleeve collared shirt, khakis, jeans, 5 pairs of socks/underwear, sweater

I've narrowed my library of books down to 5 books.

One of the books I'm taking.  One of my favorite books.

I've narrowed my coffee mugs down to my favorite mug.

a gift from Turkey

I'm taking the bare essentials.

If you had to pack all of your belongings on a cart, what would you pack?

This has been one of the toughest things for me to do.  So many things I want to take with me, like my Sega Genesis and TV, my records, my desk and my bed.

As I have had to simplify my possessions, it has required me to think and really ask the question What do I need?

This is something we all must wrestle with, especially with the holiday season upon us.  What do we need to be happy? 

Possessions?  

Money?  

Traditions?  

Faith?

Quality Time?  

People?

As I have wrestled with this, amidst the simplifying of my physical possessions, I have come to the conclusion the things in life that are most important, are not things... but rather time with family, friends and faith.  

May you be inspired to simplify your life, or realize that the things you have aren't what life is all about.

In the grand scheme of life, maybe the things we possess or try to obtain, are in fact what distracts us from the relationships that are of utmost importance. 

The hardest thing in the world is to simplify your life.  It's so easy to make it complex. 

Will Run For Food

 "You can praise God by peeling a spud if you peel it to perfection. Don't compromise. Compromise is a language of the devil. Run in God's name and let the world stand back and in wonder."  

From the Movie Chariots of Fire

In 54 days I will begin the Awake My Sole trek: a year long run across the beautiful state of Iowa.

Since stepping down from my position as a full time middle school director, I have become a full time speaker and runner.  

My buggy I will be carrying my belongings as I trek across Iowa

Since August I have been:

setting up host homes in 20 towns

setting up speaking engagements

forming teams of people

creating schedules

writing talks

aligning sponsors

meeting with people about what I am doing

running, stretching

working with a graphic designer

reading and studying

dreaming

and tons more...

It has become a full time job, and I love every bit of it.    

Sioux City Journal Article about my run across Iowa

Stickers designed by Brennan (want one?  Comment below)

"You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."  From the Movie Chariots of Fire 

LIKE the AMS Facebook page

or 

Follow AMS on Twitter