If at a moments notice with nothing with you but the clothes on your back, you had to make a choice between living the rest of your life outside in the wilderness without any modern conveniences or locked in your house never to leave again, which would you pick? And what variables would determine which you chose?
For myself, I know that if I was alone I would choose the wilderness. If I was with someone I loved I feel much more inclined to choose my home.
But it's all a metaphor. It's deciding between a life of the unknown and wild adventures, and a life of unchanging familiarity and intimacy. At least that's what it is in my mind. If I knew I had to go alone, I would adventure wildly. And after that it depends on the person: I can think of people that I'd rather run into the unknown with, and others that I'd rather lay around on the couch with intimately all day.
I feel like how you answer this questions says a lot about who you are. I'm learning that I base my decisions around people much more than I base them around my own wants. For example: if I got a job offer somewhere else that sounded exotic and fun I'm not sure I would take it, because the people around me mean so much to me and for me its more about intimacy and familiarity than adventure.
What would you pick? Really. Feel free to respond: I want to hear your thoughts.
2/10/11
I love this discussion. You know my thoughts. :)
ReplyDeleteI.... I can't fathom either one of these. I would feel so much more comfortable with the familiarity and intimacy of staying had home. Comfort is something I am looking for at all time. But comfort is selfish, and comfort isn't living. It's a break. An ever growing piece of me is calling for me to abandon comfort and go LIVE. I just don't know how. I can't choose between these extremes. I need them both.
ReplyDeleteComfort may be selfish, but sometimes in being selfish you're finding something divine and discovering a blessing that was meant for you to experience. There's holiness in taking a sabbath and there is a holiness in discovering when it is time to breath and when it is time to take action. Comfort doesn't always equal relaxation: I would derive great comfort in exploring a strange new environment with someone I trusted and loved close by me.
ReplyDeleteI like how you say that we need them both. That's important. It points me to seeing that God intended both of those trains of thought and lifestyles to be good and necessary for us.
Agrizzle'd
ReplyDeleteIt's true. God will challenge us and grow us when we need it, and give us respite as well. I could not do without his cosmic balance.