The New York Times recently had a story about an extreme adventurer (Swiss woman Sarah Marquis) who in various travels over three years has walked nearly 10,000 miles through some of the most demanding and grueling conditions possible, on nearly every continent.

There are many reasons for why she does this—a scarred past, her longing for adventure and survival, seeking solitude and suffering. The article's writer speculates, "Perhaps this is because the territory Marquis explores is really internal." But why push herself to such extremes? "… the real reason to explore or adventure, or whatever you want to call it — is that it makes a person feel alive."

Possible Preaching Angle:

We are not called to seek out suffering, but Christianity is a call to a journey of hardship and struggle. When was the last time you connected deeply with your struggle, embraced it, felt the conflicted joy that comes from encountering difficulty? Might it have been the last time you felt really alive in your walk with God?