Lately for me, the joys of life have begun to wear thin. For some people, this happens at 65, when work ends and, well, what then? For some, it happens at 18 when suddenly there is a baby and bills and work. For some blessed folks, it never seems to happen.

Is this the mid-life crisis I’ve heard so much about? I’m 42. I’ve got more material things than I need and there really isn’t anything I want (which doesn’t keep me from buying junk sometimes). My various hobbies that have drifted in and out of my life have never been consuming, nor have I desired them to be. I continue to work on a stronger faith, stronger marriage, and stronger ministry. But I find myself aching for adventure, the optimism of youth.

I see people around me who seem to reclaim the adventure in ways that are good (adopting kids) potentially good or bad (building a house, starting a business, buying a motorcycle) and bad (illicit romance). I understand the void that makes even sin seem alluring.

In the midst of this introspection, I read an article by Sarah Wright, in which she said:

I thought about the most spectacular thing in my life, God…Has He grown ordinary to me? Or is He that almost mythical God of the Old Testament that did all those interesting miracles? I can’t handle a common god. I need the One who still does miracles in my life. I don’t want to settle for less. I don’t care how foolish I sound; I want the jaw-dropping life.

Why do people say that I don’t need to aspire to do anything great, but can be ordinary and affect the people around me? Of course they are right, but shouldn’t I at least try to reach for the Brother Andrew-type life? How can we show God’s power if we don’t do audacious stunts that beg for God to help us out, like selling all our belongings and going to Uganda? That’s a life that I can look at and get fired up. That is a life that has stories to tell.

That’s what I want too, even if it turns out to be God’s jaw-dropping power in plain old ordinary life. I’m praying for it too.

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