The Spirit of Adventure

A little while ago, my sister suggested I should read a story that aptly describes the importance and brilliance of The Spirit of Adventure. It's by O. Henry and it is actually more of a short story, called The Green Door. It's goofy, fun and not serious about the way it's presented but serious about what it means.

Here's a link to the eBook from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2776/2776-h/2776-h.htm#15

It gives a great example of the way most people act when the strange and unusual happens vs. the way that an adventurer reacts to the same situation.

I was going to try to give examples of random "adventurous" situations, but unfortunately, since I am not ordinarily an adventurer, I can't think of a situation which wouldn't be far too dangerous. (I'm being ironic; I do that a lot.)

Anyway, I guess the whole point is that the real adventurer is willing to risk those scary things. A real adventurer is willing to look goofy going into a weird situation--like the guy in the story, taking the invitation to go to the Green Door. A real adventurer is willing to stick at the things that everyone else calls foolish--like a knight going off to quest or to fight a dragon (or to joust with a windmill).

I guess I could go on and on about what an adventurer is, but you probably have the idea. Its a great thing to be an adventurer, but it's a rare thing. It isn't impossible to cultivate a heroic attitude to life, and there are many ways of being an adventurer and just as many situations that require one.

There is one thing that an adventurer should be, but isn't always, and that is that he (or she) should be  always aware of right and wrong in the situation and ever willing to do right and justly by anyone.

I read this a little while ago. I think it's from one of the legends of King Arthur. (I'm not exactly sure which one...) But I loved the quote and I think it's admirable for a code of honor for any adventurer.

“This is the oath of a Knight of King Arthur's Round Table and should be for all of us to take to heart. I will develop my life for the greater good. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth, I will never boast, but cherish humility instead, I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word, I will defend those who cannot defend themselves, I will honor and respect women, and refute sexism in all its guises, I will uphold justice by being fair to all, I will be faithful in love and loyal in friendship, I will abhor scandals and gossip-neither partake nor delight in them, I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help, I will forgive when asked, that my own mistakes will be forgiven, I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward.”

If you have any more ideas for what an adventurer should be like, please leave a comment; I'd love to hear from you!

Shalom

An adventure for an uncertain heart

Hello everyone!

I've been away for a long, long time. I never can seem to find the time to do it, although I really do have time... But never mind, excuses never have been the most enjoyable of reading subjects!

I'm starting up a few things for my career in creativity. (I don't say career as an artist, although that really is the biggest thing on my heart, but career in creativity since I will be working on crochet and knitting things, and, who knows, other things maybe too.) I just created a new Facebook page that will be exclusive to this creative endeavor:

https://www.facebook.com/theworkofmyhands/timeline

I'll post things onto it, such as some of the stuff I'm painting; like the purpley dark painting, which is of the tree outside my front door and of which subject I painted for my sister's birthday; or a project that I'm knitting or crocheting, or other similar things.

So, lots of things are happening around here, on my side of the internet connection. One thing that is big (with me at least) is that I might be moving from the state that I was born and lived in up till now. I have made many friends--some of whom I have not kept up a connection with very well--and a few very close friends who I am not looking forward to leaving! I have a ridiculous horror of becoming clichéd, so I don't want to talk about how this is a weird, uncomfortable, frightening, unknowable time in my life, but unfortunately it is exactly that. I can't say that I am feeling particularly brave, even after my sister said the other day, "But aren't you enjoying this new adventure?" (I still can't tell if she was being sarcastic or not.)

I think that was another thing that got me thinking again about the idea of Adventure. I think it's a lost art in our day and age. People nowadays like to have fun and do crazy things, but the courageous, noble, simplicity of motive, the daring adventurer is sadly rare in this day of quick fixes and easy solutions. The kind of adventurer of which I speak has never been numerous, but I think never has he (or she) been less known or highly prized.

I'll write a quick description of the adventurer, mainly for my own benefit, and, no doubt, it will need some adjustments as I learn more and understand more.

An Adventurer should be:

• Courageous
• Noble
• Daring (different from courage)
• Honest
• Imaginative (for he would never get anywhere without imagining the worst, or even the best, of the unknown)
• A Romantic (in the old sense of the word)
• Hopeful

I find that I have left myself too little time to finish even this partial list. I will come back to it later, since it's a subject that I'm going to try to understand and embrace.

Psalm 31:25

   Be strong, and fill your hearts with courage, all of you who hope in Adonai.

Shalom