Time to Think

During my short stay in Galway, I met some really amazing people from all over the world (one really big upside to staying at a hostel). Two of which were a pair of German guys, Jonas and Fabien. They were on a short holiday from their studies and we immediately clicked. We have a lot of the same interests and we are similar in the fact that we can talk about random things for hours, but also communicate on a much deeper and intellectual level; and even though some of our views don’t always add up, we are mature enough to keep a high level of respect for one another. To put it short, they are pretty freakin awesome and I hope to see them again in Germany! I also met a group of Italian girls on a weekend trip and was able to meet up with then again back in Dublin for a fun night of dancing. It’s crazy to think how much dancing I've done on this trip, and the fact that I haven’t managed to injure myself in the process.

Other than that, I haven’t done much in the sense of travel. This past week and the following will be spent here in Dublin with the group of South American’s I met when I first arrived. I’ll be spending time with them, recovering from weeks of cycling, slowing my mind down so I can do some writing, and preparing for my three weeks in the UK which starts September 8^th. I will be renting a car and driving…everywhere. I hope to see as much as I can, continue to build inspiration for the book and meet people, because that’s what travelling is all about.

The reason for the title of this post is because the rest of it will be a little; I guess you could say, deeper and more personal. An attempt to strip away my pride and become honest and vulnerable. 

The first thing I would like to do is say that I'm sorry. I can’t be sure if any of the friends that I grew up with read this blog but if you do, that apology is for you. I was a hypocrite for the majority of my life growing up. I said I was a Christian, but I represented myself as something completely different and I can’t blame you for being confused or seeing religion and Christianity as something weirdly unnecessary. I realized and now have the confidence (although I still make plenty of mistakes) to represent myself as someone truly appreciative of the life God has given me. I am unashamed of my faith and one of the biggest things I've learned during my trip so far is that I wasn't put on this earth to make more Christians. My purpose is to be an image of who Christ truly is. My only hope is that each day people see that I am different, that my life is filled with purpose and a desire to further the Kingdom of God even if  it is as simple as giving someone a smile.

I bring this up to transition into the second biggest thing I have learned during this trip so far. I have been reading through a book written by a former NFL player, Derwin Gray, called HERO. He had a career ending injury but through it all became a pastor and speaks all over the world. The book teaches young men and women ways to live a heroic life. One of the inserts talked about living in the moment and trusting that God will supply your every need. Let me tell you first hand that I have had plenty of days where I wanted to throw this trip away, go back home, get a job and move on. Travelling alone can be extremely difficult, but after reading that I realized that each day has been a reminder of how amazing God has been to me. Cycling 80 kilometres in one day, the sun going down and worried because I'm not sure where I'm going to sleep turned into meeting family I will remember for the rest of my life. It is moments like that, that have kept me going, and knowing that faith (which is something extremely difficult) is what brought me through.

I want to encourage you to live in the moment. You've heard the phrase so many times that “life is short,” well…it actually really is. Don’t just live a comfortable life. If there is someone that you need to say I'm sorry to, tell them you’re sorry; if there is someone you need to say I love you to, tell them you love them; if you need to quit your job because you feel like you’re wasting away, then quit your job and find something that allows you to live a heroic life; if there is a family member or friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while, call them, it’s not a difficult thing to do; if your closet is filled with clothes and shoes you haven’t worn in months, give them away. The difficult thing is letting down our walls and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. Vulnerability to me is the gateway to true friendship, true companionship and true love.

Without going into detail, my family life growing up was rough and I know a lot of people in this world can relate. But, tomorrow my parents will celebrate 30 years together. It honestly brings tears to my eyes thinking about how much my family has grown to love one another. I can only thank God for putting back the pieces, for mending wounds that stretched over years and showering our family with his grace. It wasn't long before I left for Ireland that I went for a ride with my parents and I sat in the back seat with the dog just listening to my parents talk. I had to turn my head away because I didn't want my dad to see me in the rear-view mirror with this odd grin on my face. I couldn't help but be filled with joy because after almost 30 years, it was if they were still in their honeymoon phase, enjoying the simplicity of each other’s company and smiling about plans for the near future. That is the kind of marriage I hope one day to be a part of. Amongst the trials my parents have shown me what true love is because of their willingness to be vulnerable.

I hope that this entry brings about a moment of thought and allows you to reconsider living a comfortable life in exchange for something HEROIC.