I loved many different parts of this, Bridge, but perhaps most of all how what can appear like serendipity can often most of all represent a dawning awareness of what’s been true and present all along!
Thank you, John for sharing these wise and beautiful thoughts. After blinking back tears, and making note to self to share this with my adult children, it struck me that your words are so full of meaning for me - now - as a way to understand my path so far and also the journey ahead, no matter what age we are.
I loved this John. I appreciate the candidness & the openness which brought you to share this. You have some real gems of expression that I have written down so I can refer back to them. Just briefly, I'm 57 & have had various health challenges, & as a result I've been out of the work force for some time. Now, I want to rebuild doing something that I don't feel I'm doing a JOB, but what my heart beckons of me, precisely the themes you bring out so eloquently. However, properly assessing my skill set at this stage is not as easy to match the passion that I want to bring to whatever I choose .
John, thanks for this article. As a very late bloomer, itinerant wanderer, and inveterate middle child, I've always quietly thought my life ought to amount to something more than simply serving myself and putting bread on the table. Like many people, I mistook the searching for the destination.
Your closing words struck me most: "We do not merely find our paths. When we discover what we were made to do, our paths begin finding us."
In my own small effort to serve others, I've begun to suspect that some of the people who have appeared at just the right moments were never merely accidents. You could call it coincidence, of course. But I have come to believe that it could be providence. Godspeed.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Rich. Providence is the best word to describe my own experience too. When I’ve been in the “zone” during various personal and work experiences, I’ve felt completely connected to that force. Bless you and onward indeed.
Bridge, This is a keeper! I am also approached often, but haven't developed this kind of thoughtful protocol for lending what I hope is a helpful ear to young people.
And BTW, Two Tramps in Mud Time is one of my very favorites for the lines you quote. I first heard it in a speech by my boss at Brown, Pres Howard Swearer.
Great to hear from you, Susan, and a fellow birder. Remember the Short-eared Owls in Maryland? Awesome too that we share a love of Frost. And I love listening to Frost read his own poems like Two Tramps in Mud Time.
I loved this John. I appreciate the candidness & the openness which brought you to share this. You have some real gems of expression that I have written down so I can refer back to them. Just briefly, I'm 57 & have had various health challenge, & as a result I've been out of the work force for some time. Now, I want to rebuild doing something that I don't feel I'm doing a JOB, but what my heart beckons of me, precisely the themes you bring out so eloquently. However, properly assessing my skill set at this stage is not as easy to match the passion that I want to bring to whatever I choose .
Bridge, this is a beautiful reflection. Thank you for sharing it with us!
I loved many different parts of this, Bridge, but perhaps most of all how what can appear like serendipity can often most of all represent a dawning awareness of what’s been true and present all along!
You’re on a great journey, Zac!
Thank you, John for sharing these wise and beautiful thoughts. After blinking back tears, and making note to self to share this with my adult children, it struck me that your words are so full of meaning for me - now - as a way to understand my path so far and also the journey ahead, no matter what age we are.
Is this the wonderful Sarah Larson from our college class?? Hope you are well and to see you sometime at least at the next reunion.
I loved this John. I appreciate the candidness & the openness which brought you to share this. You have some real gems of expression that I have written down so I can refer back to them. Just briefly, I'm 57 & have had various health challenges, & as a result I've been out of the work force for some time. Now, I want to rebuild doing something that I don't feel I'm doing a JOB, but what my heart beckons of me, precisely the themes you bring out so eloquently. However, properly assessing my skill set at this stage is not as easy to match the passion that I want to bring to whatever I choose .
Love this !
John, thanks for this article. As a very late bloomer, itinerant wanderer, and inveterate middle child, I've always quietly thought my life ought to amount to something more than simply serving myself and putting bread on the table. Like many people, I mistook the searching for the destination.
Your closing words struck me most: "We do not merely find our paths. When we discover what we were made to do, our paths begin finding us."
In my own small effort to serve others, I've begun to suspect that some of the people who have appeared at just the right moments were never merely accidents. You could call it coincidence, of course. But I have come to believe that it could be providence. Godspeed.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Rich. Providence is the best word to describe my own experience too. When I’ve been in the “zone” during various personal and work experiences, I’ve felt completely connected to that force. Bless you and onward indeed.
Sharing these stories is helpful to young people, navigating early careers and making key decisions that could impact their trajectories.
As are reading the In Pursuit essays, Colleen, as you lead this great charge!
Bridge, This is a keeper! I am also approached often, but haven't developed this kind of thoughtful protocol for lending what I hope is a helpful ear to young people.
And BTW, Two Tramps in Mud Time is one of my very favorites for the lines you quote. I first heard it in a speech by my boss at Brown, Pres Howard Swearer.
Great to hear from you, Susan, and a fellow birder. Remember the Short-eared Owls in Maryland? Awesome too that we share a love of Frost. And I love listening to Frost read his own poems like Two Tramps in Mud Time.
This is great, Bridge. Very inspiring. And I really appreciate all the work you did with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Recovery Team.
Tim — you actually saw the Lord God Bird and have done more for birding and birders than anyone in America!
Thanks for the kind words, Bridge! 😊
Love this: “We do not merely find our paths. When we discover what we were made to do, our paths begin finding us.”
Beautiful, Bridge!
Good to hear from you, Stefanie, and hope you are well!
I loved this John. I appreciate the candidness & the openness which brought you to share this. You have some real gems of expression that I have written down so I can refer back to them. Just briefly, I'm 57 & have had various health challenge, & as a result I've been out of the work force for some time. Now, I want to rebuild doing something that I don't feel I'm doing a JOB, but what my heart beckons of me, precisely the themes you bring out so eloquently. However, properly assessing my skill set at this stage is not as easy to match the passion that I want to bring to whatever I choose .
It doesn’t have to be a direct path. I found myself circling closer and closer to it. Thanks for your note and following your path.