Boys Need Adventure

It’s New Years Day and I am staying at my Mom’s house in Baden, Pennsylvania. It is the house where I grew up located about twenty miles outside of Pittsburgh. Urban sprawl never made it here since the steel mills closed in the early 80’s. Woods and hills surround the communities. I needed some exercise after over indulging in good western PA Christmas “eatin”. I decided to head toward the woods instead of the normal walk around the old neighborhood. As I started down the old logging road through the grown up cow pasture memories of boyhood adventures flooded my mind. Memories of sled riding down the old pasture hills. Slip sliding down the icy creek. Remembering that same small creek as we would build rock and mud dams to make it waist deep for summer swimming. I thought of my first rabbit hunt in those woods. I climbed the oak hills to the place where I would go after school in the fall and wait for the squirrels to come out. I thought of all the deer that I missed (I loved deer hunting but I was a terrible shot) while I also remembered all the deer my cousin did not miss. We would spend mornings until dark in those woods. Sometimes we even spent nights camping there. Volumes of books could be written of the adventures we created in those wooded hills and creeks.
My thoughts shifted to a deep contrast as I just left the house where two of my grand-nephews spent the night at my mom’s with us. They brought along their XBox and I spent time with them on high tech adventures shooting enemies as we wiped them out from one level to the next. I wondered how many boys never get the chance or never take advantage of the chance to climb the wooded hills to build real life adventures. Boys need adventure. Unfortunately most of their adventures are artificially simulated on computers and machines filled with violence.
We played army in the same woods in which we had to mimic the sounds of rattling machine guns. If we heard “I got you!” we would roll down a hill only to revive quickly to shoot back. Unless we scraped a knee there was no blood involved. The video games today are getting more graphic and violent with every new release. I worry and I pray. I am not against responsible ownership of guns. I think every boy should get a chance to get on a rifle range or a monitored hunt to shoot a real gun and feel it power and see the damage it can cause. The first time I shot a twelve gauge shotgun it knocked me down and that gave a respect for firearms. Busy lives and fatherless homes are presenting less and less opportunities for boys. Boys need adventure.
I have three daughters so I never got the opportunity to take my kids hunting or on such adventures. My cousin, Jerry, raised two boys and spent many hours beside them as they learned to shoot and hunt. He often shares stories of the teachable moments that present themselves during their adventures. Much of his boys character were shaped during these times. They have grown up to be great young men of great character. I believe the adventures shared with their father helped to shape and mold them. Boys need adventure.
I am a children’s pastor who has spent most of the last twenty-five years ministering to children from all walks of life. I have met many young boys who never got to experience such adventures. I am not talking just about shooting a gun, but also taking a hike, swimming in a creek, or catching a fish. Most of the time is because of an absentee father. I am praying to extend our ministry this year to create opportunities for boys to experience outdoor adventures. I hope to tie these opportunities to Godly character building moments. Pray for us as we begin this new endeavor. Boys need adventures.