Adventure is inspiring
C. S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s heroic “Lord of the Rings” stir our imaginations with adventure. Biblical characters exude adventure. The history of the human race is indeed an inspiring and exciting adventure narrative. Perhaps God wired us to take risks with uncertain endings.
First, adventure, by definition, mandates risk and uncertainty in achieving certain objectives. If we absolutely know how something will turn out and that outcome is secure, there’s no adventure. Second, adventure expands our comfort zones together. Finally, it provides opportunities for us to focus on each other without distractions. Something we all need.
Ask your kids if they want to go on an adventure, and I’m confident in the same breath they will say yes and ask what it is. Young people long for adventure. They want their dads to help them experience it.
Adventure bonds through fun
Adventures often include fun and laughter. Dads and kids both are undertaking activities in less familiar and comfortable circumstances. That is to say, the awkwardness inherent in these endeavors makes everyone more “human.” Human beings can say and do very funny things when uncomfortable. For example, when a dad straps on a backpack for the first time, tries to attach a lure to a fishing line or lets a tarantula crawl up his arm at the local butterfly pavilion, his discomfort is often expressed with humor. In addition, children are also funny in new situations. The resulting dialogues will become part of that adventure’s shared memories.
Adventure bonds through laughter
I hear this discovery often on the Summit Adventure courses I lead as fathers are thrust into unfamiliar surroundings with their kids and other dad-child pairs. This humor helps children learn to interpret certain situations with levity. Laughter bonds dads and kids through many challenging activities such as local service work, international missions and cross-cultural participation. In addition, adding fun to adventurous endeavors strengthens the bonds between father and son or daughter.
Intense daily pressures characterize current life in the United States. In addition, young people spend over seven hours each day with electronic distractions. Humor, fun and laughter grow and thrive in environments free from excessive stress and abundant distractions. Minimize these in a bonding adventure, and kids and dads discover that each can be quite funny and lighthearted.
Adventure builds strong memories
Adventures have a similar format regardless of whether a dad-child duo is serving at a local shelter, weeding a new garden or learning how to sketch with charcoal. A common language develops around that particular adventure. For example, in the Conness climb with Justin, we used words like summit, slogging, rapping and belaying, which are now intertwined with the adventure. They describe particular things we said or did that immediately take us back to that amazing time. Therefore, incorporating these specific words and images into everyday life helps ensure the memories remain in our consciousness. Instead of them becoming relegated to distant parts of our brains.
That is to say, it is important that dads and their kiddos do the work it takes to keep memories fresh and strong over time. It takes only one to six months before adventures begin to lose their power without purposeful reminders. Regular anniversaries that involve celebrations, planned discussions, reviewing photos, slide shows and videos play crucial roles in remembering past adventures. Don’t forget the other ways people treasure experiences in their hearts and minds — symbols, artifacts, drawings and carvings. Making these memory tools age appropriate is important. However, don’t forget that even older kids and adults enjoy artistic expressions beyond photos and videos.