Truth-Seeking Journey

"If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared - most of all - to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself....then truth will not be withheld from you." Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love

A few years ago I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love and it quickly became clear why it was one of the top selling books that year (although not the best movie). The book revolves around one woman's "truth-seeking journey" after a total and complete meltdown in her "American dream" life. Which I believe anyone no matter where they are physically and mentally, can relate to.

Without immediately making the connections, a light clicked on while recently watching the movie. The quote (above) was the last line in the movie and I instantly related it to my purpose for this period of life. When we first moved to Northern Ireland I found the hardest part was losing ones identity in a community. No job, no friends, no car, no immediate way to "show off" ones talents and gifts. At that moment, the advice that helped me the most was to "take a learning posture". Learn from everyone around you. Learn about yourself. Learn about God. Learn about your family. Just let everything teach you. Press into every moment as if it is giving you a clue to truth. This does of course mean confronting realities about yourself, your family, your God, that arise in times of discomfort. I have found that when taking a learning posture, people are more open to learn from you. And this is helpful in furthering the Kingdom.