Have you ever watched a movie or heard a song that takes you back in time, not only in your thoughts but also in your emotions? I know I have, and in fact, I have that reaction every time I watch The Goonies! I don’t think there is a better movie for nostalgia’s sake for my generation.

 

If you don’t remember that movie, let me give you a quick recap. A group of kids go on an adventure to track down a pirate’s treasure in order to save all of their houses from being sold, which would force them all to move. Not only are they on a treasure hunt, but they are being chased by some bad guys. To me, it is a mix between Indiana Jones and Adventures in Babysitting. Okay, maybe that is not the best mix, but bear with me.

 

This movie is saved on my TV and to be honest, I watch it every time it happens to come on some station, no matter the time. Yes, I might have been only 5 when it came out, but the nostalgia makes it feel as though it just came out and I am taken back to my favorite theme of the movie: people from all walks of life (outcast, family, and the popular clique) get together to go on an adventure bigger than themselves, and throughout the whole movie they have to rely on each other’s strengths in order to not only find the treasure but to survive being chased.

 

When I think of The Goonies, the idea of being in a healthy group comes to mind quickly. You know the type of group that encourages you, challenges you, cares for you, and well, even if they don’t say it, loves you.

 

Are you in a group like that? I am not just talking about people you hang out with, but people who take that to a different level. I know this sounds like a typical Discipleship Pastor encouraging people in a different way to get in a Growth Group or be part of IMPACT Night – and I am not going to lie, that is part of it – but the bigger thought is, are you pursuing an adventure that is bigger than yourself? Are the people around you challenging you in different ways for you to step out of the comfort zone? Are you helping others do the same?

 

If you are not currently in a group like that, I encourage you to find one and challenge you to be active in the one you find. Take a chance, go on that adventure, and don’t go alone!