#YOLO

 How many times has someone in our party said “YOLO” in the past few weeks. 

- Trying to talk my family into the “Four Mile Trail” at Yosemite up to Glacier Point since the road was closed. Keegan was game. No one else was. Yosemite is intimidatingly magnificent. 

- Renting the surfboard in Mexico and everyone giving it a try. “When are you gonna be on the beach in Mexico again?  You only live once.” Some were more successful than others. 

- Chyloe talking another mom into braving the very cold chest deep water hiking the Narrows at Zion. “Come on, mom. YOLO!”  She did it, and thanked Chyloe later. 

- Keegan telling Chyloe we weren’t leaving our perch on Watchman’s Trail until the Milky Way came out, knowing it was a 2 mile hike in the dark back to the car. “YOLO!”  We stayed, and the Milky Way was glorious. 

- Eating the frog legs on the cruise. You gotta try it, right?  Reese commented, “it tastes exactly halfway between fish and chicken. Because frogs are ambidextrous.”

- Waking up at dawn to go bouldering in Moab, thus beating the 108 degree heat.

This is easy for me. I’m an enneagram 7. This can also be detrimental - like the guy who was cliff jumping at Sand Hollow having to clear rocks to make it, while all his friends are foolishly encouraging him to send it. YOLO can be detrimental to the wallet.  YOLO can be very self-interested. 

This sort of approach can also be detrimental to one’s soul. It can lead to addiction, debt, workaholism, an inability to rest and delight in Jesus (see previous post). 

Ultimately, adventure can be an empty chasing after the wind. I heard someone say one time that the this generation is going to find that adventurism is ultimately just as empty as the materialism of the previous generation. Maybe your Instagram account will live on forever but you won’t. 

But as one who believes everything is spiritual, adventure can and should be as well. Stargazing at Zion (the national park, not in Jerusalem), can (and absolutely should) be worship. Standing at the base of El Capitan has to draw one’s thoughts and conversations to majesty, glory, greatness, gratitude. Pity the man who can merely say “that is a big rock.”  

And ultimately, serving and loving and worshiping and obeying and giving everything to Jesus is the greatest adventure. I’ve never regretted risking for Jesus. The greatest delight in life is going “full send” in obedience to the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

Lord, give us urgency and passion to serve You, pursue You, delight in You.  May all other passions fade away in comparison.  And may all of our pursuits draw our hearts to worship You, the Giver of every good and perfect gift.