There isn’t much on this earth that I want to do that I haven’t done. I am an adventurer; always have been and perhaps always will be. There is so much on this earth to do and yet after a while it becomes limited.
I recently finished a four-state motorcycle ride. That was something that I’ve always wanted to do, so I did it. I am one of the few Pastors who will ride a motorcycle to church on Sunday. Some frown on that, but if Jesus could ride a donkey, I can ride a motorcycle.
It’s not the vehicle, nor the clothes, nor the shoes; it’s the heart that matters.
I have flown interstate trips alone in an airplane. That was something I’ve always wanted to do, so I trained as a pilot and did it.
I have ridden a submarine and dived beneath the sea. Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I spent a week in the Amazon, in the jungle and on the river. Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I spent a week in the Grand Canyon under the stars floating down the Colorado River. Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I recently hiked a 12-mile trail to the top of a 10,000-foot mountain. I had on a MountainWings t-shirt. The gold mountain with wings on the shirt always draws attention even in the city. It really makes a difference on a mountain. People actually stopped me and asked to look at my shirt. They get a different idea when they see a t-shirt that says MountainWings on the way up a mountain.
They wondered if MountainWings was a climbing club. Yes, it is.
I have climbed mountains and crawled through caves. Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I’ve had longer than 15 minutes of fame. Years ago, I was the lead singer in a duo singing group. We made three albums and had three songs that made Billboard’s top 100. I know how fame feels, and the value of anonymity.
Some of my adventures I won’t list. I will just say, always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I still have a few things on the list of “want to do that.”
I haven’t parachuted out of a plane yet. But I will.
I have places to go that I haven’t seen yet. But I will.
I have done a lot and I have a lot to do, but most of what I haven’t done, I have some idea of what it is like.
Those things no longer amaze me as much. The really important journeys now are more internal than external.
With all of the things that this Earth realm has, the things and the time are running out.
More and more as I hear about things in the earth, I can pull up a memory and something similar will emerge. I can say in some form, “been there, done that.”
Solomon, perhaps the wisest and wealthiest man of the Bible, said at the end of it all, “all is vanity.”
I have the feeling Solomon said, “been there, done that.”
He was looking for another adventure. An adventure that he couldn’t find in the wealth, the women, the power, the prestige, or anything else that materialism had to offer.
Very little is mentioned in our scriptures actually describing Heaven. Not so much as a half a page of description.
The prior years of my life seem like a wisp of smoke. Mere days. The years whisk by now faster than ever. As you get older, you know what I mean. I have a beautiful life, past and present, but I know this is just a shadow of what is to come.
I focus on storing up treasure in the place that is really important. A place where 60 years here is about 60 minutes there.
A place where even with all of my reading, I still know very little about it, except that I am sure I want to go.
A place where when people ask me about it I can only say, “ain’t been there, ain’t done that”
But I will.
~A MountainWings Original~
In the Word
George Bearden
