Surrendering to the Adventure of Nothing

Last night’s news told of Zara Lachlan, a 21-year-old from Cambridge. On October 27^th last year she set off from Lagos, Portugal. Despite close encounters with sharks, tankers and bad weather, she reached French Guiana, completing the 3,600 nautical-mile journey on Saturday.

Zara spent 97 days alone at sea, rowing from Europe to South America. She’s believed to be the youngest person and first woman to row the solo unsupported journey.

Bear Grylls writes of Nazaré, another seaside town in Portugal. Its giant waves make it the surfing capital of the world. ‘Watching the waves at Nazaré you might wonder why anyone would risk paddling out…’

Why would Zara Lachlan risk rowing across the Atlantic?

Grylls concludes: ‘As humans we are designed to be stretched… ‘Predictable’ isn’t always challenging, and totally safe isn’t always fulfilling… You don’t know the outcome – that’s the whole point – but you surrender to the adventure.’

Yesterday we went with our friends Tim and Jill to ‘Fairhaven Woodland and Water Gardens’. We enjoyed coffee at the café, walking the muddy woodland pathways, views over South Walsham Broad… and sitting in a bird hide. Usually we see great tits, mash tits, sometimes a treecreeper or a nuthatch. Yesterday? Not a single bird. Bird hide? Indeed!! Nothing.

Sometimes we ‘surrender to the adventure’ and nothing happens… agreeing to the surgery, waiting for the letter from hospital – nothing… trying to restore a damaged relationship we make ourselves vulnerable – nothing… starting an exciting new business venture – nothing… committing to pray for someone, something – nothing.

Tim was recently walking along the beach when unexpectedly he saw a bird he didn’t recognise. He photographed it, showed his birding friends. ‘That’s a grey phalarope… that’s really rare… we’ve never seen one before,’ they said.

Surrendering to the big challenging dramatic adventure is one thing; surrendering to the adventure of nothing requires patience, stamina, alertness, and embracing the unexpected. My faith points to a God who works for my good in His way and His timing.