Journey to the Soul

Have you ever contemplated the cusps in your life? You know, those points when everything changes. A sailor calls it a “sea change.” Christians might say “born again.” I was once at a seminar where we were urged to draw our lives and then discuss our pictures in a small group. For someone lacking the required eye-hand coordination required for a complex drawing, I chose simple icons to represent the major phases of my life. I was surprised at how clear each piece was; the cusps were easily defined by major events. Loneliness, misery, heartache were quickly sketched and dispatched. Then there’s a big heart, describing the best phase – the fifteen years with my husband.

Looking at my life from the perspective of these simple cartoons, I realize that everything changed. Yes, EVERYTHING changed once I felt loved completely, thoroughly, with no reservations. My pain slowly began to heal; I gained self-confidence that had always eluded me. I did things that I never thought I could do before, and I began a journey of self-discovery. All it took was love.

But I don’t want to perpetuate the myth of the knight in shining armor or prince charming. What I really speak of is the transformative qualities of love. Because once I felt his love, I began to find my own. And when I found love in my heart, I found the map to my soul.

So experiencing real love, not the kind in storybooks or magazines, helped me unlock all the hidden places. It helped me see the world, myself, and everyone else with new eyes. My perspective altered forever. My fears were no longer the most dominating force in my life. I opened myself up to looking for all the wonderful things that life has to offer. And the things it has to offer just keep coming. The wonderment constantly surprises and amazes me. When we rescued dogs, cats, and parrots, we’re really just paying it forward. We rescued ourselves when we found each other, because that love sparked a journey to our souls.