Looking for Adventure

Over the years Cathy and I have enjoyed getting away at the ‘Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill’ in the foothills of Western North Carolina.  Selena, the owner/proprietor, does a great job helping her guests “do as much or as little as they like.”  Each visit is unique as we renew acquaintances with folks we met on previous visits or make new friends as each day starts with guests enjoying a gourmet three-course breakfast around the large dining table.  One of my favorite ‘hobbies’ over the years is seeing how God connects people for His overall purpose which we may not see until later, so I always look forward and remain open for the next ‘connection’.  This visit saw several that were unique and who knows how God may use them in the days ahead.  However, at this moment I want to focus on Wade and Bernice.   

We have met couples visiting the B&B celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, honeymooning or just celebrating the day.  Wade and Bernice were celebrating 67 years of being married to one another.  That blew my mind.  I will be 67 next month.  By the way if you have not selected a gift yet, cash is always nice.  Anyway, they have been enjoying life as husband and wife longer than I have been aware of life!  They are indeed enjoying life.  She is 90 and he is 89.  Don’t worry about me spreading that information.  I got it from her.  They are not marking time in a nursing home.  They live in their own home and here they are enjoying a B&B getaway.  I wanted to take notes.  That’s how I want to live when I grow up. 

Cathy and I enjoy spending time on the front porch rocking chairs chatting with fellow guests.  I sat next to Bernice.  I want to learn about living a long and full life from folks like her.  Cathy whispered that Bernice reminded her of my grandmother who lived an abundant life for 98 years so they did indeed have several things in common.  We had a great afternoon swapping stories.  As the sun was beginning to set she looked at Wade and asked, “Are you ready to go?” I thought they might find an early dinner and call it a day.  Don’t forget, I’m nearly 67 and I have trouble staying up past 9:30 and they have been married 67 years.  So I asked, “Where are you going?”  OK, here it comes…this was worth the price of admission for me.  Bernice smiled and with a twinkle in her eye she said, “We are going to look for adventure!”  Wow!  To be 90 years old and as the sun is going down she is not headed for an early bedtime.  Bernice is heading out to look for adventure!  What a great attitude and outlook!  I think I just may have learned some of her secret to a long and blessed life.  Never stop looking for adventure!

Now I realize that adventure may mean different things for different people.  Webster gives the following definition: “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks.”  For some that may mean whitewater kayaking, skydiving or rock-climbing while others may find adventure in discovering a new mystery writer, learning to play a musical instrument or speaking in front of a group.  An adventure often involves doing something that involves some fear.  A study revealed that the two greatest fears people have are dying and speaking in public.  So I guess it would be really scary to deliver your own eulogy.  I think that I wrote about my plans to do that in my last blog but I digress. 

I don’t think the risk is the point as much as seeking daily to expand one’s experience in life.  An attitude seeking adventure is a great way to keep life fresh and exciting…even if great risk is not involved.  Seeking new experiences is adventure.  Seeking new relationships is adventure.  An attitude of seeking adventure is a great way to live.  You don’t have to attempt scaling Mt. Everest but it is important to continue to seek new things and stretch yourself.  That is what I learned from Bernice. 

Don’t give up and quit on life.  There may be times when we all feel like tossing our hands to the heavens and crying out, “What’s the use!”  Quitting or giving up should never be an option.  No matter what is happening or has happened, life is worth living.  You never know what adventure may be waiting just around the next corner.  Anyone who has lived long enough to celebrate 67 years of married life could tell you about difficult times and days one felt like quitting.  They never spoke of such matters but although I have not been alive as long as they have been married I know that life has such times of sorrow and despair for everyone.  We may not want to admit it but there may have been times, and there may yet be times, when life tumbles in and overwhelms us to the point that we question what the point of going forward is. 

Over the years I have conducted funeral services for some who just gave up and died.  Funerals are always sad but those are the worst.  I have also counseled some who are not quite ready for the funeral service but they quit living some time ago and are just marking time, existing until life is finally over.  Those are the saddest people I have ever met.  They are constantly focusing on aches, pains and reasons that they think explain why they are not able to enjoy life.  I am reminded of the quote from Helen Keller, who knew about handicaps and difficulties in life; “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” 

So as you wake each day you have a choice.  You can focus on the difficulties that can be easily identified in this sin-scarred world or you can wake each day LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE!

I Remember Him

I was searching some family history on the internet.  Often much family history can be learned from obituary searches.  One obituary got my full attention.  It read, “William H. Drees passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 31, 2018.”  You better believe it was unexpected!  I am William H. Drees!  I tried to recall but I don’t really remember what happened to me on December 31 but I think I would have remembered it if I had died!  I hope I don’t need to explain that it was not me.  It was not even anyone related to me.  However, it got my attention for several reasons. 

There are not many people in the USA with the Drees surname and I have been accustomed to being the only Drees in the phone book in most cities where I have lived.  I was the only Drees who was an ordained minister in the entire Southern Baptist Convention for my entire career.  That and $4 will get you a small (or tall) coffee at Starbucks.  When Cathy married me and became a Drees I told her we would usually be the only Drees in town.  However, our first residence was in Wichita, KS and I grabbed the phone book to show her and was shocked to see five Drees listings.  One was also William H. Drees.  Cathy said, “We need to go to their house and meet the other William H. Drees.”   I cried out to her in a panicked voice, “Have you never watched The Twilight Zone?  If I go and knock on the door and then I open the door from the other side and meet myself on the front porch, the world as we know it may explode into infinity!”  For the sake of humanity I never met William H. Drees in Wichita. 

Now I read where William H. Drees died in December, in Ohio of all places.  I have never been to Ohio…and now I have a great excuse to never go…remember The Twilight Zone.  One never can be too careful in such matters.  Anyway, it was quite interesting to see an obituary with my name.  I recently joked that I guess I am now at the age that any day when my obituary is not in the paper is a good day.  Now I gotta get some new material. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a business and self-help book written by Stephen Covey suggests “to begin at the end.”  In other words think of what you would like people to say about you at your funeral and then live in such a way to make certain that it would be a great tribute.  As one who has preached many funerals I understood what he meant.  There have been funerals that literally were a breeze to prepare and preach as the person lived a life truly worth celebrating.  Then there have been others when it was very difficult to find positive things to say.  I am reminded of the pastor who stood before the congregation struggling to find a positive word to say about a man whom all knew to be a scoundrel and he finally let out a long sigh and proclaimed the only positive truth he could muster, “Well, his brother was worse!”

Cathy once asked me, “If something happened, who would you want me to get to preach your funeral?”  After checking to see if she had increased my life insurance I gave it some thought and told her, “I’ll do it myself!”  I thought about a making a video where I would record myself rounding a bend in the river in my kayak and paddling up to the camera.  I would share my message and then close saying, “Well it is time for me to move on to see what is around the bend.” I would then que the music, ‘Going Home’ as I paddled out of sight.  The video would be placed in a safe deposit box until needed.  As I was concluding my plans it seems as if I heard the voice of God saying, “OK, smart aleck, go ahead and finish it and just see how soon you may have to use it!”  I think I got the point.  I dropped the plans.    

One day the William H. Drees in the obituary will indeed be me.  However, the best thing I can do with this sacred gift of life God has given me is to make the most of each precious moment.  Steven Covey did have a point.  If you want good things to be said of you in the end, you must live up to those complements now…every day!  No matter what the situation may be at any moment people watch and remember how we behave.  And that is how we are remembered. 

Not long ago a friend asked me to preach for their church homecoming/anniversary celebration.  I appreciated the opportunity and privilege of being asked to speak on such a special day.  I had never been to that particular church so I didn’t expect to know anyone.  However, as we were gathering in the congregation a familiar lady approached me with a broad smile.  Thankfully, when she got to me my feeble memory kicked in and I remembered who she was.  She taught one of my daughters in middle school.  I would often chaperone field trips as my schedule could be flexible and they usually needed men to assist on such activities.  So, she knew me well but that was a long time ago.  That daughter is now in her mid-30s thus you can me having to jog my memory.  However, I think I will always remember what she said.  She told me, “When I heard that you were coming I was so excited.  I told everyone I knew you and they would love you.  You were always so upbeat and positive.  You are always smiling!”  That’s not a bad obituary.  Again, back to Steven Covey’s point, how do you want to be remembered?