Summer is here.
In an unexpected turn of events, I have ended up in my home town. Perhaps this is not so unexpected. I adore summers here. Previous posts have discussed at length my love of being barefoot, and swimming, and sailing, and running through the forest, and catching up with friends and family. You can basically assume that is what I will be up to this Summer.
The picture above is one of my favorite souvenirs from last Summer. It was a difficult time for me personally, but I was surrounded by beautiful, dear friends. In the midst of the weight and heat of July I took this picture at a Bastille day picnic. The women pictured- Dori and Cat, have both moved away (more home town transitions)... It is amazing to watch friends carve their lives and find adventure. I am so proud of them and grateful for their presence in my life.
Returning to a place creates a strong demarkation. When I return to Paris each Spring / Autumn I get to see the growth of thought, the subtle transitions in the lives of others. This feels like the greatest luxury in my life now- the chance to advocate, listen, process, observe, inspire. To disconnect, and reconnect. To Mark the seasons, and chart the growth.
Each time I return to, or leave Paris, I light a candle and sit in The Church of St. Thomas d'Aquin. It is my favorite church in Paris. It is also where I ended up on my 3rd trip to Paris- when I was homeless, and broke, and had no idea where to go or what to do. I just went there, and prayed, clutching my suitcase and crying a bit. Oh, the changes that seven years can bring! Setting in this church now gives me a chance to reflect on all that has happened in my life since. When I return to Paris, I realize that I am more at home than the previous trip, more aligned to the culture, less homeless, more at peace with myself.
Jonathan Randall Grant // Culture Keeper