For as long as I can remember I have been taught to “figure things out”. The way in which I was told the way to understand was to use my head, to think through the problem. I learned well, maybe too well. Good analysis was the measure of a good conscience, and thereby a good decision.

I have been gifted with a sharp intellect and a beautiful mind. I have been graced with an ability to see the relationships between constituents at larger conceptual levels, to make sense of complexity and make connections between ideas and patterns. These gifts have grown strong in the culture of judgment and critique in which I’ve been raised.

But there are other gifts, gifts that I have spent lots of time exploring and little time sharing with others. I have a deep curiosity and care for people. I have a deep trust in the power of beauty and aesthetics as essential to human communication and connection. Through service to others and stewardship is how I touch divinity. And most of all, I love a good story.

David Whyte’s poem The Seven Streams is harmonic with an answer to the Beautiful Questions I am asking myself. Who do I want to be in the world? How do I want to share it?

I’ll start by sharing with you, for the next month, stories that are some of those “streams” for me in my life. I am trusting that my vulnerability can be a faculty and not a weakness. Here will be some of the details of my own “provenance”, gathering together some of the threads and streams of my life.

As I sit here actively resisting all the reasons that you should not read any of this, let alone that I should not write it, I humbly offer you these stories. Full of bad grammar, poor spelling, questionable choices, and likely more that one or two non sequiturs, I hope that they will serve in adding color, depth and tone to my voice in our collective conversation.

Peace,

Jonathan