Article July 21, 2008 Issue

LIFE—THE GREAT ADVENTURE

BY RON MANGELSDORF

I CLIMB, WITH JOY, THE HEIGHTS OF MIND, TO SAR O'ER TIME AND SPACE . . . —VIOLET HAY, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HYMNAL, 136

THIS SUMMER'S HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, HAS PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD POURING INTO THEATERS BY THE MILLIONS— A STRONG INDICATOR THAT PEOPLE LOVE A GOOD ADVENTURE STORY. I WONDER IF ON ANOTHER LEVEL IT'S ALSO AN INDICATION THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE ADVENTURE IN THEIR OWN LIVES. IT ISN'T UNUSUAL TO HEAR COMMENTS SUCH AS "NOTHING EXCITING EVER HAPPENS TO ME" OR, "I'M BORED" OR, "MY LIFE IS STUCK IN A ROUTINE AND I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS." OR SIMPLY, "THE THRILL IS GONE."