I love to tell of the ventures that I’ve taken to Manitoulin Island.

Often, when I come home after a trip to the north, I tell those I meet, all about my time on the Island.  I don’t have to embellish the stories; they’re spectacular just as they happened.  Some of the things that I’ve seen and done on the Island are beyond description.  There are several times that I’ve said, “I wish so and so was here, they would love this!”

One such adventure took place in the middle of winter . . . I’m not a cold weather enthusiast, but I have learned to dress for the weather when I am up in Canada.  I am so glad that I have not allowed contentedness to rob me of the spectacular.  When I’m led out onto snow covered trails in the wilderness with my friend, words and even pictures fall so short of any description of all that our Creator God has laid me amid. I return with stories that can rival any National Geographic story.

When I return back to the states, even my feeble description of things I have seen and done cause others to say, “Wow I would love to experience that!”  On a number of occasions, I have talked to my friend on the Island, asking permission to bring along some who have not been on the great white north adventure.  My experience has sparked an interest . . . sometimes a longing in others.  I love when I can share my friend and the adventures with others.  Sometimes I voice my only regret . . .   “I really wish . . . so and so was here too.”

When I read Luke 7, my great white north adventure caused me to see the Centurion’s encounter with Christ in a new way.  The Centurion was intrigued by what He heard.  The Bible says, When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders”.  That meant that there were people talking about Jesus . . . And the things they were talking about were so spectacular that others sat up and took notice.  The Centurion said I want that!

The thing that jumped out at me was the way the servants of the Centurion responded . . . they went to Jesus . . . “And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He (the Centurion) is worthy to have you do this for him . . .”  Jesus contacted Him . . . taking the centurion on an unexpected adventure.

After reading that I began to ask myself questions.  Like those following Christ as read of in Luke, does my report of the adventure I am on with Jesus provoke others to seek Him?  The Centurion was exposed to stories that caused him to run after Jesus.  Then the servants plead on behalf of the Centurion . . . The question I have to ask myself is, to what degree do I run to Christ and plead for others to experience what I have experienced?

My winter adventures on the Island have been spectacular!  How much more spectacular is the adventure I am on with the very one who created and upholds every winter adventure I have ever been on!  Unlike a winter adventure, my adventure with Jesus will not melt away.

Lord, I am pleading with You to help me SHOUT of my life adventure with You in a way that will draw others to You.  My heart’s desire is for “So and so” to be on this adventure with me!  Please make that a reality!  No Centurion is beyond faith.

Luke 7:1  After he (Jesus) had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 

And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (bibblegateway.com, ESV)

More than just a BELIEVER in God, I need to be a FOLLOWER of Jesus!