I am taking a trip

[365_days_gone]

Well, you're grown so I'm not going to tell you what to do.

Did you ever see a movie called "Into the Wild"? It chronicles the life of Christopher McCandless who seemed to be in about the same place as you are now. Without telling too much of the movie,(I hope you’ll rent it, if you haven’t seen it) it ends with the following quote, he writes in a book

“Happiness Only real when shared”

It’s a fool thing, I think, you’re fixin to do – you can’t find anything when you’re running away from something else. You’re gonna hurt your Mama bad, scare your friends and burn some bridges that you aren’t ever gonna be able to get right again, but if your bent on doing so, despite all what being said to you, and you don’t mind farm chores, we can offer you a camper and a couple of hot meals if you find yourself in S.C. Let me know.

1. I have seen the movie. It is very good. And, you know, he is happy when he leaves.
2. I have no friends. The only people that will even notice I have left are my 3 family members.
3. I have decided I will tell my brother and after I have left, he can my parents. Then I will call them from wherever I go.

God, we're so confined to live these normal lives where everyday feels exactly the same. The idea of simple TRAVEL is getting people freaked as if they are talking me off of a ledge. Unbelievable.

[Gypsy]

Listen, brother, if you want to travel then travel. Go for it. Have the adventure of your life. We're not your folks. What we are is a group of loving Christians, who almost unanimously now for thirty something posts have been telling you that we sense something angry and rebellious in what you're saying. We are urging caution not because we are against travel or want you to have a "confined life" but because we know the danger of acting hastily in anger or rebellion. You sound like a man who just wants to turn off of the road that he's on without any consideration of where the next road will take him.

[2]Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

When I was in my twenties, I felt the need to do the same. I took a job on a fishing boat in Alaska for a season. I then hitchhiked down the west coast. I spent awhile living on a bus and lived in Hungary for three years. It may have been something I needed. It may have made me happier, but I was never afraid to tell my Mama what I was doing. That's what we are reacting to, not the actual travel.

[tango]

God, we're so confined to live these normal lives where everyday feels exactly the same. The idea of simple TRAVEL is getting people freaked as if they are talking me off of a ledge. Unbelievable.

Nobody is getting freaked at you wanting to travel. The issue is travelling a long way with apparently no plans of any nature other than looking for anything remotely flat to sleep on, and not letting anyone know where, or even that, you are going. If you're going to tell people that you're taking a trip they don't need to worry about you. If your parents come back from work and find you're gone and they don't see any trace of you for several days how do you think they would respond? If you don't want to tell them details of what you're doing that's your call but basic consideration requires you let them know you're going travelling.

All you are going to find in Orlando is Mickey Mouse.
Go to the mountains. Hike part of the Appalachian trail or something like that.

Hiking part (or all) of the AT could be a good experience. You'd expect to spend a lot of nights sleeping rough, it would be physically fairly demanding (especially if you do it end-to-end) and would give you a goal to aim for. The threat would be more related to bears and other wildlife than urban predators, and it would give you a lot of opportunity for solitude. I don't know if web sites exist to link up with other people who might want to hike the trail, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

[Otter77]

God, we're so confined to live these normal lives where everyday feels exactly the same.

I think you're confused by your limited perspective and experience about what an "ordinary life" looks like. I thought I was living an adventurous life "on the edge" filled with adrenaline rushes, party nights, near-death experiences, and much more.... then I hooked-up with God and found out what a REAL adventure is. It's not what you think.

[Slug1]

I think you're confused by your limited perspective and experience about what an "ordinary life" looks like. I thought I was living an adventurous life "on the edge" filled with adrenaline rushes, party nights, near-death experiences, and much more.... then I hooked-up with God and found out what a REAL adventure is. It's not what you think.

Amen brother... AMEN!

Brad... read the story of the Prodical Son. You want to live this experience? Or only read about it and allow God to teach you through His Word, AFTER you crawl back and say... I was wrong.

[Reynolds357]

I think you're confused by your limited perspective and experience about what an "ordinary life" looks like. I thought I was living an adventurous life "on the edge" filled with adrenaline rushes, party nights, near-death experiences, and much more.... then I hooked-up with God and found out what a REAL adventure is. It's not what you think.

Yep, the wildlife gets old eventually. Looking back on it, I really have no idea what about it I ever enjoyed. You could not pay me to do for a living what I used to do for fun. I used to love to hang out in bars. Now, I will not even work in them providing security for $50 per hour. Do not feel convicted about doing it, just hate being around that junk. I can not stand drunk women and their flirting. Can't stand drunk men and all the crap they want to start. Can't stand stupid drunks wanting to be my best friend and tell me their life stories and start whining etc. etc. etc.
I used to love to gamble. I was and am still good at it. The last time I went to Vegas, I was miserable. I was playing cards and making good money, but I would rather have been digging a ditch in a swamp. I was miserable. Guy sitting beside me kept telling me how to play my hands. I was winning big and he was losing big, but he thought he knew it all. I finally told him if he spoke one more word to me he was going to eat at least 4 of his own teeth. Just a typical drunk who I can no longer stand being around. BUT, I used to love that crap. Perfect example of how God changes the desires of your heart.

[Otter77]

What a shame that so many of us had to waste our time experiencing these things first-hand rather than living for His Kingdom from the get go!

"God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible-what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves." -- A.W. Tozer

John 10:10 (The Message) -- I'm not a big fan of "the message" but I feel like this particular passage is held well in context and totally relevant in this particular translation to our discussion right now:

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

I really hang onto those words... "more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Whatever life you're dreaming of - God has bigger plans than you can imagine. A better life than you can even imagine is possible.

I know for certain that my "dreams" of a better life 10 years ago were nothing like the amazing life I'm living with Victory through Christ today... those dreams would never have been as fulfilling or awesome as my life is now and I'm SO thankful that God's will is stronger than mine.

10 years ago Otter would have said the Otter today is a "Loser" and "Pathetic"

Otter today would look at 10-years-ago Otter and cry for him.

[karenoka27]

Has your passport come in yet?
You came here and asked opinions of where you should go in Florida I suppose. Yet you don't want to hear what anyone has to say.
You are cared for here, and have been for a long time. I am one of those who has looked at you as a kid brother or even like a son. I've prayed for you many times.
I don't understand what it is you are looking for? Are you looking for godly guidance or do you want us to suggest you go join in some heavy metal band and have a great life? You won't get that here. I have read every post and each person cares and has attempted to encourage you. What is it you want from us?

[Athanasius]

God, we're so confined to live these normal lives where everyday feels exactly the same.

You are you no matter where you are, or what life you want to choose to live. My wife has been all over Europe and Africa (missionary work); I've traveled to quite a few European countries myself - I would love to return to and live in Finland (and God willing one day I will... And my wife will just have to 'live with it' ). If it's an experience you need, then do it, but others should know what you're doing, and why. All this talk about 'finding yourself' has been, in my experience, nonsense. You may grow and mature (may), but you'll realize that... You are you. It's not your circumstances that need changing, it's you.

[moonglow]

You are you no matter where you are, or what life you want to choose to live. My wife has been all over Europe and Africa (missionary work); I've traveled to quite a few European countries myself - I would love to return to and live in Finland (and God willing one day I will... And my wife will just have to 'live with it' ). If it's an experience you need, then do it, but others should know what you're doing, and why. All this talk about 'finding yourself' has been, in my experience, nonsense. You may grow and mature (may), but you'll realize that... You are you. It's not your circumstances that need changing, it's you.

I thought 'finding yourself' was a fade in the '70's or '80's that died out because it really made no sense... Can you lose yourself?

I suppose you can in some ways...I nearly lost myself in an abuse marriage and was becoming more and more like my ex which was extremely scary! I didn't want to be angry and upset and hateful ALL the time...that just wasn't me..

Anyway I can kind of relate to what he is saying because I felt the same way when I was younger..I didn't want to live my life in a dull routine day after day after day..and I had an overwhelming urge to go and do something also. Which is why I suggested doing missionary work. Sleeping on benches in freezing weather and getting mugged then having no money at all for even food doesn't sound very appealing at all actually but just more stress. Plus there are numberous stories all the time about teenagers and young adults killing homeless people for fun. Setting them on fire...beating them to death..its just horrible.

At least in missionary work you do get to travel and work hard and be productive and really make a difference.

Our objection again 365_days_gone isn't about you traveling...its not telling your folks. Its not honoring your mother and father at all as the bible commands us to do. They would call the police and report you as missing and be scared out of their minds. That just isn't a nice thing to do to anyone actually.

God bless