As parents, the best “parenting” we can do is point our children toward their heavenly father. We can teach them to go to Him with their questions, their pain, their confusion, and their triumphs. I believe the best form of initiating your kids is to not fix everything for them, but to point them in the direction of God and let them find their own Jesus.
This past Sunday Noah (13), and I took off on an adventure. We hit the mountains of Southern Spain with one thing on our minds: let’s make it an epic day!
As we approached a trail we had not been on before, we found it split into what looked like two trails. One was clearly where everybody goes, the other was an old river bed that went straight up the mountain… We chose the road less traveled.
As we started up this “trail” our conversation went something like this;
“Dad, when I skype my buddies back in America later, I am going to ask them what they will be doing today. Then they will tell me what they always do: ‘gonna sit on the couch and play xbox!’ I will respond, ‘I just hiked the mountains of Spain and went on an epic adventure with my pops! I can see the mountains of North Africa, and the Rock of Gibraltar— that’s all!”
As we climbed up stone walls that used to be waterfalls, and under trees and brush that had not been moved in years, we found ourselves three hours later stuck on the side, and very close to the top of the mountain. There was no way to go up anymore, and we knew we could not go back the way we came.
So, what did we do? We started praying.
“Holy Spirit, guide us— which way would you have us go?!” We worshiped, we laughed and we sang. (Noah told me later that he did cry a little bit as well)!
At almost 50 years of age, one thing I know is the older I get the less I know. The more I see in the world, the more I experience life, the more I need to just lean on the one that created it all.
The “road less traveled” is a tricky road. It is painful. Sometimes it is dark and confusing. Many times it is full of adventure. Other times you just stop, take a deep breath, and know that all you can do is trust. The road less traveled is a road to faith. It is my responsibility to take my kids and a generation down the road not taken;
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
As we were standing on the side of this mountain without many options, I said, “Son, in April you are going to help us launch a World Race team in Barcelona, and then come on the Camino De Santiago with us. If we can, mom and I are going to take you with the team over to Northern Africa to serve the Muslims and then to Greece to serve the refugees. And after all of that, and toward the end of April, we will come home and play some xbox on the couch!”
With that, Noah and I gave a nice “Shout” and start sliding down the rocks, through the pine needles and fallen branches. We used the trees to slow us down, and we found ourselves, bruised, cut and a little bloody, finally, at the bottom of the mountain.
As we emerged out of the forest and walked back into the village, Noah said, “Thanks Dad, for bringing me out here. We had Church today on that mountain didn’t we Pops?”!
“Indeed we did son, indeed we did…”
As we live as “Volunteers”/”Missionaries” out here in Mijas, Spain we need your prayer and financial support. Our son Michael’s Foundation is a public charity and every gift you give, from $5 a month or more is tax-deductible, and helps sustain our daily lives and helps us build for the future. Any one-time or monthly gift really does affect our family on a daily basis. Please go to New Horizons Website and look around. We can do matching gifts with corporations, receive gifts from Estates, from Stocks etc. And, please seriously consider supporting us monthly and with your one-time charity. We believe we are right where we are suppose to be, and your generosity proves that to us every day.
There are three easy and secure ways to partner with us on our quest for a generation…
1) Online at:
New Horizons Foundation TeamBlack 417
*there is an option for one time donations or reoccurring donations. We are a “Public Charity” with full tax-deduction and matching gifts.
2) Mail a check to:
New Horizons Foundation
5550 Tech Center Dr., Ste. 303 Colorado Springs, CO 80919
*Please include in memo of Check “TeamBlack 417”
3) Text “TB” from you cell phone to 719.445.8383 and follow the link.
From Gary, Lisa, Caleb and Noah – thank you so much for joining us on this journey, we are praying for you daily, and please email back any and all prayer needs and requests.
