There are so few moments in life where we really cross over into...

There are so few moments in life where we really cross over into a better understanding of what the heck we’re doing here.  I had one yesterday.

As many of you know, my debut picture book “Journey” is about to hit the shelves.  Next Tuesday, in fact.  And now I find myself gearing up for the next phase of being a picture book creator: the book tour.  I spent a few days practicing in preparation for a trial run at my three-year-old daughter’s preschool. I got nervous.  What if the kids ran all over the place?  Or worse, what if I ran out of things to do or say?

None of this happened.  Instead, I rediscovered old neural pathways from long ago; memories of working at summer camp, teaching art to children; things I did in my teens and twenties that I had completely erased from my day to day sense of self as a busy professional, husband, and dad.  It was as if the door that the girl draws in my book was one I had drawn for future myself long ago.  “Remember?  You love this.  You love seeing children’s faces light up.  You love inspiring them.  And you love hearing what they offer in return.  What’s more: it feels good and right and purposeful and so full of everything that I’m supposed to be doing with this life.”

I’m afraid it might be time to bust out the guitar and write a sing-a-long.