I really enjoyed reading this, thanks! I've just returned from traveling in Iceland (very affordable at this time of year if one is willing to live on cheeseburgers, fish and chips, and the remarkably good hotdogs), and so am behind in reading your travel log. The pictures are great!
Carl Jung believed that God's most frequent form of communication was coincidence. I believe he was on to something and am glad you're paying attention.
Your new friend was right, lots of people out here love you. If you were to meet each and everyone of us just for coffee it would take you years to cross the continent. You've impacted MANY of us, big time.
Hang in there Steve, and savour the new places and experiences.
Seriously, Steve, the "dew on the fleece" moments couldn't be more obvious.
Its hard, very hard, not to envy the moments of clarity you're experiencing, even though it may not seem to be as much as you'd like and as fast as you need it to be. But wow! Even with my cataracts, I can see clearly now...the rain is gone!
There are numerous souls in situations right now which are so hopeless, so filled with NOTHING but seemingly endless suffering that they gladly ride beside you, walk next to you and wish they could eat what you're eating as they read your words, just hoping they're with you when you find the Golden Ticket in that candy bar.
I’m glad you’re along for the ride. None of this is what I expected it to be, but in a way it’s exactly what I hoped. I was looking for the unexpected. It’s what you do when you don’t know what you need.
Steve, you are such a gifted writer! You can take the most mundane thing like ordering coffee or eating a sandwich and make it into a riveting story. Looking forward to the next installment.
The beginning of your journey was dark with so much pain and uncertainty. Your situation was heartbreaking and I began to pray for you. As you stayed with different friends and met with people you only knew from your writing, I could see that you began to experience their genuine caring for you as you try to discern your future. You seem to have touched so many lives through the years without realizing it. May this fortify you as you return to your family in Raleigh. It won’t be easy but hopefully this trip has renewed you and given you hope.
The darkness is still there, but you’re right. I found a version of myself out here I’d lost along the way. I needed that guy. He used to believe in himself. And it turns out that even though he was nearly erased, he grew older and wiser along with me and was ready to bounce back when given the chance.
Another great one, Steve. And I have to agree with Johnathan Blevins: There ARE a lot of people out there who love you. I've been listening to you and reading your stuff for a long time, and at the risk of sounding ridiculous and sappy, I can honestly say that you are important to me, even though we've never "met." Now, can we address the fact that you didn't purchase a Field Notes memo book to write in...when you were in Chicago?! Their headquarters?! Now THAT is a tragedy!!! (I confess; I'm in the cult.)
Wonderful to travel around Chicago on foot this way vicariously. "The best is yet to come." Ah, I have a song with that lyric (see below, Attachment 1, a lovely song by Basia, who's Polish). Definitely a message from Our Lord (IMHO). I don't agree with Chat GPT that returning to Raleigh is like returning to Egypt. You better return to Raleigh for the sake of your family--when you are lead back there in prayer. I'd say "All Soul's Day" and "All Saints Day" should be a turn-around point (not that you asked me). Remember, the enemy of the soul is a liar (and knows scripture). I'm not telling you where to head, BTW. Ask Our Lord. Those photos do look like NYC, as you point out (minus traffic and crowds and Mamdani, our upcoming Big Apple catastrophic crisis as a mayor).
So, I'm sending my impression of how the Lord seeks any soul that strays from His company and companionship (Attachment 2). BTW, the related movie ("On A Clear Day" is free on Youtube this month. I like the movie a lot. Don't believe in re-incarnation, but I do believe in Purgatory, and Purgatory may feel like re-incarnation, only we'll remember in Purgatory, whereas in pure reincarnation, one doesn't necessarily remember one's past life.) Happy Travels, Happy Writing.
"A New Day for You" by Basia, who also says "The Best is Yet to Come":
Deadline for turn around: All Souls' and All Saints'. But who am I to boss you around? (It comes with being a mother--don't feel bad, I boss everyone around by nature, even MYSELF. Yes, I have running arguments with myself. And the Enemy of the soul.) Here's how I speak to the Enemy of the Soul--with a song, of course. Here I was, Steve, in the Amazon (I'm pretending in my mind's eye) floating in a crystal clear river, basting in the noon-day sun, and up swims a swarm of Barracuda to wreck my life, my soul, and my day. "Oh, no, not YOU again, you varmin!" (The singer's name is Anne Wilson and her blonde sister Nancy is to her left--and who also can sing (and is a master guitarist). Nancy's famous song: "These Dreams." They're with the band Heart.
This is a GREAT song for spiritual warfare, of course. The "real thing" is Jesus Christ, naturally.
"Not as theology, but as self-recognition: I exist, I’m here, I’m real."
Sounds like ChatGPT is sending you down the wrong path to me. The key point of the desert was that they could have gotten through it really quick - if they just had faith to take on giants with God's help. They didn't, so they ended up stuck there for forty years - until a new generation came along that didn't remember what Egypt was like, and was so miserable that even giants were better than being stuck in a desert.
That's the question to ask God. What are the giants you want me to face? And then face them. With God's help.
I really enjoyed reading this, thanks! I've just returned from traveling in Iceland (very affordable at this time of year if one is willing to live on cheeseburgers, fish and chips, and the remarkably good hotdogs), and so am behind in reading your travel log. The pictures are great!
Carl Jung believed that God's most frequent form of communication was coincidence. I believe he was on to something and am glad you're paying attention.
Your new friend was right, lots of people out here love you. If you were to meet each and everyone of us just for coffee it would take you years to cross the continent. You've impacted MANY of us, big time.
Hang in there Steve, and savour the new places and experiences.
Seriously, Steve, the "dew on the fleece" moments couldn't be more obvious.
Its hard, very hard, not to envy the moments of clarity you're experiencing, even though it may not seem to be as much as you'd like and as fast as you need it to be. But wow! Even with my cataracts, I can see clearly now...the rain is gone!
There are numerous souls in situations right now which are so hopeless, so filled with NOTHING but seemingly endless suffering that they gladly ride beside you, walk next to you and wish they could eat what you're eating as they read your words, just hoping they're with you when you find the Golden Ticket in that candy bar.
I'd settle for the wrapper
I’m glad you’re along for the ride. None of this is what I expected it to be, but in a way it’s exactly what I hoped. I was looking for the unexpected. It’s what you do when you don’t know what you need.
“Dude, there are so many people out there who love you.”
Don't forget that. Excited to see where you go next. The West is calling.
YOU NO BING BONG! That’s what popped in my head about the pho.
Steve, you are such a gifted writer! You can take the most mundane thing like ordering coffee or eating a sandwich and make it into a riveting story. Looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you, Sandy! Glad you enjoyed it! Life’s always an adventure if you look at it a certain way…
The beginning of your journey was dark with so much pain and uncertainty. Your situation was heartbreaking and I began to pray for you. As you stayed with different friends and met with people you only knew from your writing, I could see that you began to experience their genuine caring for you as you try to discern your future. You seem to have touched so many lives through the years without realizing it. May this fortify you as you return to your family in Raleigh. It won’t be easy but hopefully this trip has renewed you and given you hope.
The darkness is still there, but you’re right. I found a version of myself out here I’d lost along the way. I needed that guy. He used to believe in himself. And it turns out that even though he was nearly erased, he grew older and wiser along with me and was ready to bounce back when given the chance.
I’m not willing to lose him again.
Just subscribed…keep writing my friend!!!
Another great one, Steve. And I have to agree with Johnathan Blevins: There ARE a lot of people out there who love you. I've been listening to you and reading your stuff for a long time, and at the risk of sounding ridiculous and sappy, I can honestly say that you are important to me, even though we've never "met." Now, can we address the fact that you didn't purchase a Field Notes memo book to write in...when you were in Chicago?! Their headquarters?! Now THAT is a tragedy!!! (I confess; I'm in the cult.)
Wonderful to travel around Chicago on foot this way vicariously. "The best is yet to come." Ah, I have a song with that lyric (see below, Attachment 1, a lovely song by Basia, who's Polish). Definitely a message from Our Lord (IMHO). I don't agree with Chat GPT that returning to Raleigh is like returning to Egypt. You better return to Raleigh for the sake of your family--when you are lead back there in prayer. I'd say "All Soul's Day" and "All Saints Day" should be a turn-around point (not that you asked me). Remember, the enemy of the soul is a liar (and knows scripture). I'm not telling you where to head, BTW. Ask Our Lord. Those photos do look like NYC, as you point out (minus traffic and crowds and Mamdani, our upcoming Big Apple catastrophic crisis as a mayor).
So, I'm sending my impression of how the Lord seeks any soul that strays from His company and companionship (Attachment 2). BTW, the related movie ("On A Clear Day" is free on Youtube this month. I like the movie a lot. Don't believe in re-incarnation, but I do believe in Purgatory, and Purgatory may feel like re-incarnation, only we'll remember in Purgatory, whereas in pure reincarnation, one doesn't necessarily remember one's past life.) Happy Travels, Happy Writing.
"A New Day for You" by Basia, who also says "The Best is Yet to Come":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJPmZFUDoi8
--
Yves Montand is God. Daisy Gamble is any person that has wandered from His company and companionship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBOVNADwYs4
--
"If it helps, use it."
I’m definitely heading back there. It’s just a question of whether it’s time yet.
I don’t think it is. Not quite.
Deadline for turn around: All Souls' and All Saints'. But who am I to boss you around? (It comes with being a mother--don't feel bad, I boss everyone around by nature, even MYSELF. Yes, I have running arguments with myself. And the Enemy of the soul.) Here's how I speak to the Enemy of the Soul--with a song, of course. Here I was, Steve, in the Amazon (I'm pretending in my mind's eye) floating in a crystal clear river, basting in the noon-day sun, and up swims a swarm of Barracuda to wreck my life, my soul, and my day. "Oh, no, not YOU again, you varmin!" (The singer's name is Anne Wilson and her blonde sister Nancy is to her left--and who also can sing (and is a master guitarist). Nancy's famous song: "These Dreams." They're with the band Heart.
This is a GREAT song for spiritual warfare, of course. The "real thing" is Jesus Christ, naturally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M
“Website 15 year old!” He cackles again.
Oh, that's funny! But this one from ChatGPT:
"Not as theology, but as self-recognition: I exist, I’m here, I’m real."
Sounds like ChatGPT is sending you down the wrong path to me. The key point of the desert was that they could have gotten through it really quick - if they just had faith to take on giants with God's help. They didn't, so they ended up stuck there for forty years - until a new generation came along that didn't remember what Egypt was like, and was so miserable that even giants were better than being stuck in a desert.
That's the question to ask God. What are the giants you want me to face? And then face them. With God's help.
Iowa, perhaps?
I think I went through there briefly…