“Adventure is something that happens along the journey. It’s what happens to you during the expedition. It cannot be planned. It must be experienced in the moment.”- Timothy D. Willard (emphasis author’s)
“We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventure. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner. I can’t think what anybody sees in them.”- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
As Timothy Willard moves on in Chapter 7 of The Beauty Chasers, he observes that beginnings tease with visions of grandeur. But then they turn into something not-so-familiar. So, eventually the adventurer looks back and notices that the hobbit hole has disappeared. Now, an unfamiliar path leads into the unknown, the landscape changes. Frightening, but also invigorating.
In addition, Timothy notes, walking sticks come in handy on familiar trails. Thus, a walking stick provides comfort and safety. Consequently, the author exhorts, at times it’s good to exchange our walking sticks for swords. Because, to find ourselves, we need to leave the comfort of home. Certainly, dragons possibly lurk nearby, but that’s why you carry a sword.
Also, Timothy states, the word adventure suffers from overuse in our culture. Hence, today we tend to experience adventure via virtual reality. And even when we find it in the physical world, it comes in a controlled environment. As a result, safety and knownness dominate the experience.
In conclusion, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) used his curiosity as a prompt to circumnavigate the globe. However, he’d only heard of a grand ocean that lay beyond the Atlantic.
To reach his goal, Magellan set out into the literal unknown – with only a slight chance of success. Plus, he needed to convince 260 men to join his quest, requiring five ships to do so. As Timothy phrases it, “Adventure always costs you something.”
Today’s question: Do you agree with the author that adventures must be experienced in the moment, along the journey? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Our human heritage – adventure”
