The Journey

August 10, 2023 - Kenya

Today our Fountains of Hope team leaves for Kenya and I’m truly excited. We have a small team this time, only 4 of us. This will give us a great deal of flexibility and ease our movements around the country much more so than a larger team. Unfortunately it probably means much more work will be required of me. On larger teams I usually assume the self-appointed role of team documenter and photographer thereby dodging most of the manual labor. But I believe being on a smaller team will afford an opportunity to forge some stronger relationships; getting to know people on a deeper level.

Passion should carry all writers work, everyone’s really. To paraphrase the poem “Johnathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach, my soul aches for words which speak to themes that are timeless. There are 1000 ways to describe even the simplest event. I will endeavor to describe what we see and experience in a way that is compelling and interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but always honest.

I love books and movies who’s title leads you to think the work is about one thing and in reality its about something completely different. Like the movie ‘Good Will Hunting’ or the Book by John Grisham “Testament” which is much less about a lawyer trying to execute a will, but rather much more about him discovering who he really can be and his transformation and redemption in the jungles of South America.

At the beginning of the journey we are all filled with hope and expectation. A sense of excitement courses through us as we travel to a place that is unfamiliar but full of wonder. As for me I believe the journey will be deeper, I’ve been exposed to some of the writings of the great mystics and contemplatives of the world this year (Merton, DelBrèl, Gandhi, etc.) and it is shaping me, causing me to look deeper. I’ve been in a period of dissonance through this, kind of crabby (sorry Cynthia) and quiet a lot. But I fully believe on the other side I will be better, more like the person God created me to be; more full of love for myself and others.

Welcome to the journey.

“Everything was made to shine, despite what you see.” Josh Garrells, Out of the Blue