Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

“Character is Destiny”

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hero’s journey

 

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Go on an adventure

Have you ever read an adventure story such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Four children are led into the land of Narnia. They are not sure what to expect. They meet unusual characters. They experience strange places. They face difficulties. They must be brave. They must seek help from Aslan. Ultimately, they become better people.

Adventures are uncertain things—many struggle to leave the safe and familiar for new opportunities.

Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, famously said: “We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty, disburbing, uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”

Adventures require doing hard things. Doing hard things makes life interesting and may open up opportunities for you that would not have been available otherwise.

Here is what an adventure could look like.

Consider volunteering part-time in an organization that interests you. (The stakes are low. If you decide the work is not for you, you can easily try something else.) By volunteering, you will gain new knowledge and skills and build relationships. If you do good work, you will gain trust and new opportunities.

Volunteering provides many benefits. It enables you to experiment, self-assess, and explore needs and opportunities. You may also identify something you feel led to do, which will help you determine your training and education requirements.

Adventures are fun, but they can also be challenging. You must embrace difficulty to succeed.

While volunteering, it is helpful to read stories about adventures, such as biographies, to inspire you. They will help you lead.

Gladys Alyward felt led to become a missionary to China in the years between World War I and World War II. She saved her money, worked with a mission board, packed her belongings in two suitcases, and bought a train ticket that would take her through Russia and a war zone. Months later, she arrived in China, where she stayed for many years. She, along with another missionary woman, opened an inn and shared Bible stories with travelers. During World War II, she led hundreds of orphaned children and prisoners to safety in an epic journey. Her story is worth reading about.

Is there an organization you are interested in volunteering with?

If the medical world interests you, consider Mercy Ships.