Yes, it’s true! I am “whacking my way through the publisher’s jungle” again, this time with a book about discovering the exciting adventure God intends each one of us to have. The most challenging part has been figuring out how to organize stories I wrote over the years into a reader-centered book. But it has been fun to relive these crazy, yes-they-really-are-true episodes Jesus led us into.

The Lord is faithfully providing help from friends and Word Weavers as I seek to produce a high-quality book worthy of Jesus’s name. I was very pleasantly surprised that this unfinished book won an award this month at an annual writers’ conference! It motivates me to try to finish it soon and, of course, to pray for His guidance. Your prayers are greatly appreciated, as I approach editing the second half of the book.

As my “inner circle,” I thought you might like a sneak peek at the introduction.

Adventure, Anyone?

True confession.

I am an unlikely adventurer.

Maybe you are, too.

This book is for anyone who longs for a meaningful, interesting life but may not know where to begin.

What is adventure? For each person, it looks different. It’s doing anything outside your comfort zone, trying something new, taking a step of faith.

Maybe it’s taking that new job you’re not sure will be better than the one you’re leaving. Or accepting a party invitation when you’re not confident meeting new people. Or whatever uncomfortable steps you must take to overcome that which keeps you inside of a smaller universe than you would like.

And why do we need adventure? It’s the spice of life, the difference between humdrum and magnificent, like plain tofu that’s transformed when a gourmet chef stirs in his secret ingredients. It expands our world, inside and out. It’s joining your life to something bigger than yourself, and finding you are better because of it. Adventure keeps you feeling young because you are always learning something new.

My best adventure began when I prayed, “Jesus, if I can know you and if you have a better plan for my life, I’m interested.” I took a risk when I asked the God of the universe to take over my life without knowing what He would do in response. Would He expect me to wear thrift store specials and read hymnbooks for excitement? What kind of people would he want me to hang out with? My first book, Tire Tracks, describes my hesitant first steps of faith and what happened in the years after that. 

Trusting Jesus turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. It brought a life overflowing with adventures of every kind with amazing people. I continue to learn what Jesus meant when He said in John 10:10,” I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”

Jesus knows all about adventure. The Great Adventurer took a big step out of his perfect comfort zone in heaven when He came to earth so He could lead us to places we never imagined we would go. He has used my steps of faith to transform me into a still hesitant but sometimes wild adventurer.

As you will discover through some of the stories ahead, if I can be an adventurer, anyone can become one.

If I stayed where it was comfortable, I would have missed out on so much! When I let go of the hollow promises of safety and security and let God take me where only He can hold me, I become fully alive. In those times, I stand in awe of His avalanche of fascinating experiences and deeply meaningful contributions to others. The road ahead is not always smooth and predictable, but it will never be boring!

I hope you laugh, cry, and see yourself in my stories. I hope they motivate you to pursue your unique adventure. 

You don’t have to travel the world like I did, but reading about my sometimes crazy, sometimes humorous escapades may encourage you to step into whatever is calling for you in your own backyard.

How would you define adventure? What would you most like to know about finding your great adventure?

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