“The mountains are calling & I must go & I will work on while I can, studying incessantly.” – John Muir
Often, I hear this quote as “Adventure is calling and I must go”. Which is a fair rendition of the original quote. Though I do prefer the original. I live in the mountains, and the sentiment behind Muir’s words resonates with me.
Today, however, I’m focusing on the call to adventure. In writing, authors often follow the hero’s quest, which is a long-winded sketch of how a story should play out. You see it all the time in movies, and while it might not be as obvious in books, it’s there. Among the first things to happen is the call to adventure.
The hero or heroine is faced with a problem that only they can solve.
What do they do? Will they answer the call?
Sometimes they deny the call, bad things happen, and they get a second chance to make things right.
Every time I begin a new story, I feel the call of adventure thrumming in my veins. I’m helpless in the onslaught of thought and must prepare the way for my characters to take the stage. Their adventures become my own, and for several months, I live and breathe their lives on the page. It’s a strange feeling to become so connected with fictional people.
The call to adventure might be subtle.
Or it might come crashing down with the grace of a mudslide and encapsulate the characters in a mire of problems.
Either way, they must choose their path.
Just as we choose our path.
Like the steps carved into the rock in this picture, sometimes our path is clearly marked. Other times, we search to no avail and find ourselves lost in the woods. As an author, as a human, I rely on God to show me the way. It isn’t always easy. Answers don’t always arrive when I want them to, nor do they always say what I want.
But we must keep pressing on.
Have you ever been held back from answering your call to adventure?
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor's degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she's not homeschooling her kids, you'll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha's genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
I’m not adventurous at all. I’m holding myself back.
I know in some things I hold myself back. I told Mom once that I felt like in some things I really didn’t have a choice, that the decision was made for me. However, even in that, I’ve definitely had some things happen that I wouldn’t have chosen, and there are things that happened that I would have chosen. I can look back and even when I thought I didn’t have a choice, I can see how God worked all of it out to the best. I have no regrets when I look back, especially when I look back over the 9 years I was Mom’s caregiver, and even before that during the time I helped Mom with Daddy. I’d go back and do it all again in a heartbeat. There are things I’d do a bit differently, but only because I know things now that I didn’t know then; I did the best I knew to do at the time, though. I told Mom I had no regrets for anything I/we did for Daddy, and I’d have no regrets with her. I was right.
I not really adventurous I was more adventurous one year ago but after my 90 year grandma passed away suddenly now I’m a caregiver for my 94 year old grandpa and now I’m busy so don’t have time to really do anything extra.
Hi, Tabitha! As a young person, I learned a habit of waiting for someone’s approval (like my parents’) and often not receiving it when it came to adventure. I can see now that it flowed from fear. My mom was afraid that I would get hurt or that I wouldn’t be there to help her when needed.
In the time since then, I have accepted many calls to adventure: work, ministry, travel. In recent years, I have seen a return to fear within myself. My health has made it hard if not impossible to be outgoing. I have had many times when my best was rejected as not good enough so taking the risk resulted in some serious hurt.
So now I need to step up to the adventure of the day-to-day, find God’s strength to “Fear Not” and feel the adventurous wind in my hair again.
Thank you for the reminder of the call!
Hi, yes, I am adventurous.
I’m the same way most of the time. I hesitate, and I plan, and then I end up doing nothing.
I love that you can see the path while looking back. You see the decisions and how they led you to where you are today. I know your parents are grateful for the years you spent with them and those memories will be cherished forever.
I can understand how that would make adventure difficult. I bet your grandpa has loads of stories to tell, though, and those will stick with you too.
I also had things I wanted to do but mum put road blocks in the way which in later life I realise was due to her fear.
there are some things I am adventurous with and some not so. thinks like travelling I was fine traveling alone even overseas. The latest would be volunteering to be secretary of a local volunteer group which helps raise funds for the local hospital. (for someone who is very self conscious and often feel others are judging me its a huge step). I am fine behind the scenes but the upfront stuff is scary. (first meeting is today).
Good luck! It sounds like the group you are going to be working with has plays an important role in your community. I hope your meeting goes smoothly.
Happy to hear from you, Lincoln! It can be hard to balance our fear with the call.
Happy to hear it! What would you say is the most adventurous thing you’ve done?
Best of luck! It’s difficult to overcome fear. I completely understand preferring to be behind the scenes. Thank you for being willing to face your fear and help your community.
Yes. I enjoyed exploring the mountains of West Virginia. I was also the practical person who is not a fan of snakes or bears. I would not go out alone unless I was on the road. Even then, I kept watch for anything out of the ordinary. I was teased about being a city girl. That maybe true, but it also was the safe route. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I am not adventurous at all, I am a very careful person since adolescence, simply taking unnecessary risks seemed silly to me.
I like routine, my lifelong dream was to have grown up in a small town, fall in love with my childhood friend, go out to college (stay close to home) get married, stay home writing fantasy romance books or middle adult if we have children
And adventures …? We can always go for a vacation ride over there.
Unfortunately I have moved a lot with my family so I do not have lifelong friends, the right man I will have to meet him as an adult and possibly we live in the big city. But all I want is a happy life with people who love me, I wouldn’t mind finding a job when I graduate in a nice place and staying there until I retire. However, life is made up of decisions, more than one is risky and therefore adventurous. Changing college was a necessary adventurous decision … and I hated it at the time, but in the long run it was for the best ☺️
I love adventure but sometimes heights or areas where there is a lot of wild animals out right now keep me from doing my adventure.
For me it would be heights for sure. But I love adventure & if it’s where I can get to & go then I will but if it’s travelling right now I’m avoiding any travel so it’s stopping me.
the meeting went well all 15 mins of it! but afternoon tea took longer. I think we may have missed a couple of things but will get to them in Jan. It was the last meeting for the year as the Dec was only a few days before Christmas. Worst part is having to wear reading glasses cos I then cant see anything else without them. The group is good I am the youngest by close on 13 years. most are mid 70 – mid 80’s
I am adventurous! Ready to go any time!