(Oxford, England)
I have never thought of myself as an adventuresome person. I don’t like to swim in the ocean or rock climb. When I think of adventuresome people, I think of sporty types like Laird Hamilton who surfs waves in the middle of the ocean. Not me.
So it surprised me when the word was used by others about myself.
(Canterbury, England)
You may know I like to travel alone. Yes, I go on writing weekends to friends houses while they are gone but once a year or so, I like to go to the UK on my own. I an on such a trip now. I always give myself a challenge to accomplish the trip on as little money as possible. I use points for the plane fare. I stay in monasteries. I fast. If you follow this Substack, you may remember I spent a few month out here last year meditating on Joy. That month became the book Undaunted Joy which will be out with Harper Collins/Zondervan April 2025. That entire trip, a month in England costs me 3250$.Airfare, trains, food, housing, all of it.
(St Augustine’s Abbey, Surrey, England)
On this trip I have had 3 separate 4 hour dinners with strangers. Two of them were people on social media whom I had not met before, who met me in Oxford for dinner. We spoke of family and faith in ways that I have not shared or heard from many I have known for years. The last dinner I shared with a stranger who just a few nights ago. A woman who is a parishioner at the monastery church I was staying at. We met in the parking lot. Got on and decided to have tea. Then she asked me to dinner.
I suppose in the past, when I hear the word adventuresome, I think reckless. But I am starting to see that not all adventures look the same. Some are about being open and available.
(Cambridge, England)
At all these dinners, and at other long conversations I’ve been having this past week, I’ve been mostly a listener. Open to hearing the stories of others. Holding these moments as sacred. I wonder if that is a different type of being adventuresome, being willing to enter into vulnerable spaces, for myself and for others.
A few days ago, I was able to talk to my husband on the phone. It does get hard being away from the family. I was a little teary when I asked him “is it a little crazy that I do this?” “No, not crazy,” he responded. “You need the adventure.”
If you enjoy these photos there are many more with stories at my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shemaiahg?igsh=dTVvMTMyYzd6ejE4&utm_source=qr
Since I'm no longer on Instagram I enjoyed reading about your 'adventure' here. These lines stood out to me:
"I wonder if that is a different type of being adventuresome, being willing to enter into vulnerable spaces, for myself and for others."
It sounds like God has gone before you, friend. Be safe and filled up!
You are quite an inspiration! I love the way you look and live in this world. It is with gratitude I read your words.