CRISTO REY ADVENTURE CLUB

Setting Out on the Heart’s Path
A group of California parents propose the Christian event to their children as an adventure. Their monthly outings witness to a friendship in action that has given rise to a true sense of wonder in life.

by Martin Bacich

As a father of young children ranging from nine to two-and-a-half years old, I want the best for my children.  In particular, I find myself hoping that my children begin to perceive and experience life as a true adventure.  Life as an adventure means to me that life be lived with its questions and difficulties, suffering and joy, within the context of the final end point, the final object of desire.   I am a daily witness to my children’s natural wonder, openness, and creative energy, and recognize the need that their “little-big hearts” carry.  Nothing that my wife or I can give could ever approach their hearts capacity.  Concurrently, I find the common cultural response of endless childhood “activities” exhausting, and a bit like an existential sponge meant to absorb and attenuate a child’s wonder and energy.It was in response to this hope and these observations that the Cristo Rey Adventure Club (www.cristoreyadventureclub.blogspot.com) was begun this summer here in San Diego.  Once a month, the children of our community, and their invited friends, embark on an adventure.  The “adventure” is something as simple as a hike, or as daring as wave riding on boogie boards in true San Diego fashion!  Whatever the adventure may be, there is always a moment of recognition of Christ as the source of all beauty, joy, and friendship, and as the King of all of history; hence, the name of the club.  It is this simple recognition that defines the day, and makes the activity full of expectation and wonder for the children and the adults.  
 In the few months since beginning Cristo Rey, I’ve been surprised first at the response of my children as they look forward to each monthly adventure with increased anticipation.  For them, it’s really something exciting.  It is as if they were living a few hours of the CL summer vacation each month.  Secondly, the response of the adults whose children participate has been one of true “possession,” as something they own and want for others.  Finally, the ease in which each adventure has been proposed to others outside of the experience of the Movement has been a clear sign of how simple and attractive the Christian proposal is when presented as a true adventure.