Tonight got weird.
My younger son revealed that he had learned an interesting fact about his birth date from another home educated boy.
It turns out my son was born the same day Osama Bin Laden was kiled. So after s’mores and a shower and just before bed, we start a deep dive into the events of 9/11.
I wasn’t ready for it, I was tired from a long day of hiking amd adventuring.
The most important learning happens when you don’t want it.
I didn’t know how far to go, but they knew more than I expected and led the conversation with their questions.
It didn’t last long, but it was emotionally taxing. Once they got into bed, I returned to the Tiny Estates communal fire to decompress. A couple had sat to make their own s’mores and I thought they’d let me peacefully punch out my blog post.
We exchanged pleasantries and I couldn’t resist further conversation. In a strange and awkward couple of sentences I used the words “wife” and “girlfriend.” Woof. “Okay, I’m just going to throw this out so I’m not dancing around: I lost my wife in February of 2018.”
“Um, we both lost our spouses. We’ve been together seven years and married for four.”
I’m reeling from the meaning of this chance meeting. I’m blessed by meeting people who have thrived through traumas.
Today was all about Jordan Peterson’s Ninth Rule: Assume That The Person You Are Listening To Might Know Something You Don’t.
Earlier in the day I had a long chat with a grandmother on a sunny hike. We connected on Christian values of service and ministry, honoring God’s chosen path for oneself, and living an adventurous life. Then I discovered how my sons were learning through their friends. Then I discovered a deeper, if still awkward, bravery in talking with more strangers.
It’s enough to catalog it all for now. Understanding it is too much.
God bless, I appreciate and thank you,
Jason