Everyone needs to almost die.

By the way, this is my report on my Solo Sabbatical in Yosemite. Everyone has been asking me about my time in Yosemite alone at the end of January/beginning of February – so here it is. I blogged a thank you to my pastor in Illinois on why I was doing a solo sabbatical in Yosemite as well as my first report with a follow up there. I do not intend to post all the reports here. This site is about Yosemite Summit, so this will be the ONLY post about my Solo Sabbatical, if you want to follow the “deeper” reports on my trip and more photos, you’ll need to follow my personal blog, but I did want to post an official report here as well as the highlight video I made to show the best of the photos I took. And now back to the report in progress! As I was saying…

Everyone needs to almost die…

And no, I’m not referring to almost being struck by lightening in Yosemite last year! And I’m not directly talking about my near heart attack last year either – though for all practical purposes I might as well be. If almost dying twice in 2009 taught me anything (and it taught me a lot!) it made me realize that long life is not something you should assume. So let me say it again, and I really hope you will hear me this third time: (this is now directly from my journal on my solo sabbatical)

Everyone ought to almost die. If not, they really should try to pretend or reflect on what it means to live as though they are not sure of long life.

Let me set the record straight. I’m not afraid of dying. Never was. But after almost dying (twice!) I’m no longer afraid of living! I refuse to put off the life I want. If that sounds selfish, let me rephrase it – I refuse to put off what I believe God is calling me to do. (sound better?) I no longer assume far off “somedays” exist! Two to three years is as long as I assume I have. That DOESN’T mean I think I’m a dead man in five years! Without going into detail – I have a clean bill of health, I avoided a heart attack, and have a stent in a healthy heart. It just means that if I want to do something, I START PLANNING IT! I know better now – start planning it, or it’ll never happen!

Someday is just another word for NEVER!

What are you saying you will do someday? Write a book? Go on some dream vacation? Produce a resource? Start a business? (Go on Yosemite Summit or Unbridled?) I can’t even guess what it is for YOU, but YOU know what I’m talking about… I’m scratching that itch RIGHT NOW. I know I am.

The point is, start planning it NOW. At least get out a pad of paper and start scratching out the first few steps.

One of my life long dreams was to go to Yosemite in Winter. It seemed impossible. The only way it happened was to start planning it. And then God came along and took care of the “impossible” part for me! He surprised me by taking care of the one detail I couldn’t manage. Do you think God won’t do that for you? Do you think He loves me more than you? Bah!

Watch this video of my little dream come true. This took over four years to come true. Even longer if you count the years I was too scared and too busy to dream the dream! Enjoy! Two days snow shoeing through Yosemite in winter and then ask yourself,

What “someday” am I not trusting God for? And start planning it.

Download: YosemiteWinter-byKarlBastian.mov (38mb MOV) 640×480

Yosemite Summiteers 2009

It’s official! The 2009 Yosemite Summit Unconference for Children’s Pastors has been filled. The 9 guys above will be setting aside ministry for four of the best days of their life in May. I’ll introduce you to them more in the weeks and months ahead, but for now I just wanted to let you know this event is now full. (There are still four openings in our women’s Unconference, however.)

For those of you who were considering this event and were unable to attend for one reason or another – let me encourage you! Yosemite Summit can still bless you in one of the two following ways:

1) Right NOW, mark ALL of May 2010 off on your calendar as a sabbatical month. Not only might it help you come with me next year, it’s still a good idea. I know take two ’sabbatical’ months a year. Does that mean I get off work? Nope. It means that I plan two months out of the year where I block out the entire month for no out of town trips or large events that don’t absolutely have to be during that month. I have learned the hard way that if you don’t MAKE TIME to be home more with your family, life won’t let you. YOU are the only one who can control your calendar and the demands placed upon you. Look ahead to the future, and block out a month where you will not travel or do any large events. A month where you go home very evening. For me, it has been May and December for the past two years. For you it may be different, but I can’t tell you strongly enough how much you NEED to do this. If you doubt me, just ask your wife. So whether it is May 2010 (so you can come to Yosemite Summit) or any other month, right now, look far ahead and block off a month. I can tell you, if you don’t do it, no one else will!

2) Right NOW, (well, after you do the one above), look not quite as far ahead, perhaps within the next 4-6 months and look for a time when you can take at least two, if not three full days to spend some concentrated time with God. Not enough vacation time? You might be surprised at how willing your SP or boss might be willing to grant the time as work time – if you sell it right. You want to spend time praying, listening, evaluating, and re-aligning your heart and mind and plans with what God has for your ministry. Most senior pastor’s will grant this time. If not, be creative and make the time. There IS a way, if you want it bad enough, and I bet God wants it bad too and will help you find it. One day is NOT enough! Find a place you can get away to. Your wife and kids will survive, and besides, they might like you better when you return.

Bottom line: You don’t need Yosemite Summit to benefit from what this event is about: Detaching from the busyness of ministry to spend focused time with God. If you were not able to come to Yosemite Summit due to cost, calendar conflicts, or other constraints, the good news is, you STILL have have your own summit with God. What are you waiting for? Schedule it now! And I’d love to hear about it too.

He then told me about a trip that he and about six other guys do every year, and then I knew what he meant by “serious!” They hike all fifty-five miles of the Paria River in Utah (crosses into Arizona). The start at night, with a silent walk in pitch black darkness! The canyon walls are so narrow and high in the slot canyon that at times the packs have to be held overhead with arms up to walk. Oh, and you are walking in water the entire five days. I’m summarizing a ten minute description of the hike… sounded very “serious.” 

But I also got some input on the spiritual atmosphere and some ways to encourage reflection on the trip. If you’d like to read more about this intense hike, check out this Paria River link. I did some Google Earthing of the area, but was not sure I had it correct, so I’m not posting any screen shots, but it was fun to trace the canyons in the area both in satellite and Terrain views.  They start here (I think) where the river dumps into the beginning of Colorado River, and then get a ride back 55 miles and hike back to their cars in a week of walking!

If you can’t come to Yosemite Summit… maybe this is an option for you!