Of Inconveniences Rightly Considered...

Thinkers have made much of adventure in the histories of man, nearly always winding the greatest of tales along the paths cut by Odysseus, Washington and their like. It is often said that the history books are written by the winners, usually in ink brought back from foreign lands reached by roads of the most glorious enterprise. This sort of adventure was universally to some greater end; whether it was to reclaim a conquered land, a stolen bride or the unalienable rights of man, the victory speeches of these adventurers never included the line “Just because I could” That, my friends, is entirely a product of the 20^th century.

Modern adventurers; wealthy, aristocratic brigands trekking the earth on corporate sponsored trips to climb the unclimbable and swim the unswimable, are a bastardization of the term typical of what we have become in the last hundred years—lazy. Adventure today is thought of more in cable TV terms: that which can be lived by someone else reality-show fashion to be viewed at our leisure. What this pre-packaged definition disregards is the true prevalence of adventure in our lives. G.K. Chesterton opined that “an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” Truthfully, the real adventure in life comes not from seeking high places or deep oceans, but from the imperfections of life itself. The experiences of the lesser endowed of wealth but greater of spirit, cast forth with only the clothes on their back in search of something needed, not coveted. They seek no glory, only their due. Often, the most honest payment they expect is the knowledge that the right thing was done through their part in a job that should have been routine, but fate cast as anything but.

Tolkien writes in The Lord of the Rings, “Remember what Bilbo used to say: ‘It’s a dangerous business going out your door’”. Few among us realize that we are cutting our own path and the most ordinary of stops along the way can lead to a bad end. A hard reminder of this came last Sunday with the news of the mid-air collision of two medical helicopters in Arizona. 2008 has already been a very deadly year for the air medical industry only at its midpoint; each report of disaster reminding us of the fragile nature of even the stoutest among us. But it should also serve to remind us that our story is waiting outside and there is no use hiding indoors hoping it will go away. Fate is patient and demanding, and when she desires our participation she will fling open the doors and seize us into our greatest day. Helen Keller wrote that “avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” Translated: none of us will get out alive, so you may as well live.

We should never seek to glorify those fallen in pursuit of life; their achievements speak more loudly than any fruitless words of ours. Rather, we should embrace the spirit that pours from their stories, drink it up and use it to refresh our own waning sense of adventure. So many times we get out of bed lonely or despaired, only hoping to get through the day when, all around us lives the chance to make the day…that day, remembered through us.

So far this year, sixteen people have died in air medical crashes, putting 2008 on pace to surpass a very grisly record. This should give us in the business pause to consider how to reverse this trend and augment our own personal vigilance. But it should also empower us to live—to step out of our door and see where we are swept off to.

Later in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien writes “But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And, if they had, we shouldn’t know, because they’d have been forgotten” Artificial adventurers are barely remembered after their photo is taken atop the peak they paid to climb; but the folks in the tales that really matter, they endure in ways that don’t allow us to forget.

Please visit the condolence book for the victims of the recent crash and read updated news here.

Speaking of adventures I won’t forget, my wife and I found out this week that we’re going to be parents…of twins. Words truly cannot express the emotions I’m feeling at this news, and I thank everyone for your congratulations and well-wishes. Check back here weekly for updates about the coming 100% increase in the occupancy of our home.

Of a lesser variety of adventure, I’ll be starting my new job this week. While the recent tragedies have made me think hard about my chosen path, I’m very excited at the prospect of this new beginning. I will be posting much about this as well, so stay tuned.

Do good things with the week to come, learn something new and be safe.