Courtney McGrailBear Grylls tells Fergus Ewbank he often turns to his faith in hard times
Bear Grylls is a man who has dedicated his life to exploration. Watching as he abseils down deep crevasses and leaps into shark-infested water, it’s easy to see this exploration at face value, a man single-handedly taking on the perils of our planet. But beneath all the ‘man vs. wild’ bravado, there also exists an inward exploration, one much like Bear’s own take on religion and faith.
Always determined “to keep going despite the pain”, Bear pushes his body and mind to their absolute limits. His drive to carry on despite hardship is something Bear puts down to the “light” of his faith. His time spent alone in the wilderness represents life at its very core, “that primal part of us all”. His willingness to explore dangerous and unchartered territory, and the faith he so often turns to during these times, works well as a symbol for our own religion in the face of personal hardship.
Notoriety
Fittingly for a man whose notoriety stems from his enthusiasm to conquer the wilderness alone, Bear sees faith as “a very personal thing”. Whether at the top of a mountain or facing everyday challenges, the Faith we turn to within moments of solitude “should be personal and quiet”, according to Bear.
Bolstered by his own experiences in dangerous territories, Bear has often found himself turning to faith in hard times.
The story he tells of his journey into Christianity is one many of us share: “I had a natural faith as a kid. I just believed in God and that God was good. It was very childlike and simplistic.”
A change came for Bear though when, at the age of 16, his godfather passed away. “I remember saying a prayer asking God to be with me, and really that is a prayer of salvation. That was the start of my faith there. But it has been a lifelong journey to realise that faith isn’t about religion and church, it’s about being held and being loved and about finding home and about finding peace, and that is a continual journey.”
As someone who believes in faith as a personal notion, Bear has always been somewhat at odds with publicly sharing his religion.
“My faith has been the strongest anchor in my life and the best of guides in the dark hours that we all go through. But it isn’t always easy to have a faith publicly as faith is, and should be, personal and intimate,” he says.
Though he sees his individual experiences as his own, Bear is more than willing to speak about how his belief has acted as a light in darker times. “I was afraid to talk about it in the past as you’re always scared of ridicule or it being seen a sign of weakness, but I’m no longer afraid to say that I need my faith. It’s a real backbone in my life. So if I’m asked, I am more than happy to talk about it.”
In a world where fewer and fewer men seem to choose faith, Bear’s willingness to speak openly is refreshing.
Here is a man who has served in the army, taught extreme survival skills and led incredibly daring expeditions; all the while, he remains as unafraid of confronting inner turmoil as he does the dangers of the life he’s chosen to lead.
Though Bear isn’t the kind of person to impose his faith upon others, his readiness to talk publically about his beliefs in the ‘macho’ world he inhabits may well inspire others to do the same.
“I’ve learned that it takes a proud man to say that he needs nothing, and I’m not like that. So my faith is important. I’ve also learned that there aren’t many atheists in the death zone of Everest,” he says.
Near-death
Experiences like Bear’s, and those of other explorers, are the kind of near-death moments that can draw a person closer to God. There are instances in all of our lives in which our faith can feel more substantial, a fundamental part of our ability to move forwards, but, as Bear believes, “you don’t have to wait for things to go very wrong to enjoy a natural faith”.
Wherever Bear is, taking the time to follow his faith remains important. Although time for pause and reflection can be scarce when leading a lifestyle such as his, Bear always factors in a moment of prayer. “I have a little daily readings book I read about faith and life,” he says, “I also always try to start the day on my knees to remind me of what’s important.”
At the heart of Bear’s continuing desire for exploration is the determination to never give up. His is an attitude that sums up everyday faith so perfectly, one that needn’t apply only to those clinging to the side of Mount Everest, we all have our own summits to conquer in one way or another.
This is, in Bear’s own words, a belief that lies “at the heart of a great survivor, that fire inside, that never-say-die attitude”.
*Bear Grylls has just launched the Bear Grylls Survival Race: an event designed to empower people to test and extend their adventure fitness. The inaugural BG Survival Races will take place in London, October 3-4 www.beargryllssurvivalrace.com