So far a lot of this trip has been spending time with significant people in my life. And significant people are like mirrors sometimes. Especially the ones who have lived with you. We are in Chicago now with our friend and my room-, apartment-, housemate Brandon and his wife Amy. We have already tickled our diaphragm many a times over dinner and a good glass of Bourbon as we shared stories from our times together. And that’s been just great. The reason he is a mirror though is that he shows me who I am. For some reason it is good to have some pointers in your life to show you around when you don’t know what to think of yourself anymore. So I am thankful for all those significant people in my life like Brandon who help along the way.
Some lines in Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller struck a chord on this theme of finding oneself. He took a trip like this and writes about sharing his plans and reasons to go with people.
“…plans were shared with friends, but few understood. “Going off to find yourself” was the standard interpretation. I don’t think that is really our point. We are shaped by our experience. Our perception of joy, fear, pain, and beauty are sharpened or dulled by the way we rub against time. My senses have become dull and this trip is an effort to sharpen them.”
I think for me it is both of these ideas. Sharpening senses and finding myself or rather my path set out for me. Jamie Cullum’s words in “Twenty Something” still ring in my ears too…
hmmm, this was a great post…very true to who you are, and how you have explained these next few months. i’m looking forward to reading more. if you read this while you are still in Chicago, please give Brandon and Amy a hug just for me, ok?
Glad to see you’ve found Miller interesting…I love his perspective and he articulates his ideas in such fascinating ways…
happy reading ( :
ps. happy belated birthday Aaron and congrats Uncle Sammy!