An interesting story always—ALWAYS—involves conflict.
At its core, a compelling story follows a character who wants something and has to overcome conflict to get it. Conflict, in this instance, is anything that impedes progress toward the goal.
We certainly didn’t PLAN to climb a fence to get around a closed trail, but the story lies in how the team faced and solved a problem and became a stronger community in the process.
Our FRONT RANGE FREEDOM Tour team discussed the notion that God wants us to use the days He gives us to create a story worth telling. We wrestled with the idea that we must willingly seek and confront adversity, because stories worth telling aren’t comfortable.
It’s tempting, after the fact, to talk about smiles and hugs and victories as though the entire journey was one giant basket of roses. But…does anyone really believe that a group of sixteen people can ride bikes 500 miles together, live and eat and sweat together, for 10 days without facing adversity?
Some of the adversity is circumstantial. Flat tires and mechanical issues, road closures, weather problems, traffic—that stuff happens.
Other adversity is relational. Unless you’re riding in Fantasyland, this sort of intense experience inevitably leads to interpersonal conflict. Long, hot days in the saddle drain energy, strain tempers, and test wills.
The point isn’t to AVOID adversity. If that’s the goal, stay home and sit on the porch in a rocking chair. But nobody wants to read that story.
What makes the story compelling is how the characters deal with obstacles.
Each obstacle provides opportunities to grow, to lead, to serve, to develop character, to fail, to become more self-aware, to demonstrate grace, to forgive and seek forgiveness. The obstacles, and how we approach their opportunities, make the story worth telling.
I believe God wants us to dream big dreams and trust Him for outcomes we can’t accomplish on our own. We’ll struggle and at some point our efforts will fall short.
It’s not comfortable to surrender control, to really trust His guidance and provision. You can’t decide in advance what’s going to happen or how it’ll turn out.
But it makes for a great story.
Please leave a comment here.
