Hi John!

This is a longer one, complete with some photographs from my trip to Utah! I'll share some thoughts about carrying hope into the fray, as I return to the fray this week.

If you're confused by that, the fray is just an edgy way of saying "reality". 

In this week's email:

​Cartoon: It drags on... 🎒
Dad Jokes: Girly grill time 🍗
Video: Creating authentically 🎨
Post: Sarah and the church ⛪️
Quote: Rethinking illness 🤕 

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

WALK OR BE DRAGGED

This is obviously inspired by the inspirational poem titled Footprints in the Sand. The original says, "This is where I walked beside you. And this is where I carried you." 

But, sometimes, we feel like we need to be dragged. 

DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK

My daughter has lined up all of her dolls towards the outdoor grill.

Looks like she’s preparing some kind of barbie queue.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

This video touches on 3 core ideas for authentic creation: 

1. What it means to create art that pushes back on social norms

2. How to manage your own mental health under the pressure of criticism

3. What it is like to build a successful brand that is authentic to who you are

POST OF THE WEEK

CARRY YOUR PEACE INTO THE FRAY

I’ve had the most incredible week.

As I shared in last week’s letter to you, I was heading to Salt Lake City to speak to Affirm, a group of LGBTQ+ Mormons with their family and friends. It was my first public speaking occasion in years, and it was, apparently, a hit. I had a blast sharing my affirming cartoons, and they had a blast listening to my talk while my cartoons flew across the screen behind me.

Then, from there, I met my son Joshua and went to Zion National Park where we did some rappelling down canyon slots and gulches and scaled walls and peaks. I put in about 35 very rough miles, and I had the time of my life. Phenomenal!

One night we slept out under the full moon and stars beside river rapids… halfway down the Zion Narrows… we had hiked 12 miles by then carrying 30 pound backpacks... all by ourselves, no one else for miles, and just took it all in. The next day we hiked out the remaining 10 miles. I’ve included just a couple of pictures.

BUT… the reason I’m sharing this is that something happened inside of me the night we were sleeping under the open sky.

I had been offline for a couple of days. Zero wifi and cell service. Completely isolated. Again, I tangibly felt the oneness of all things. I could feel the aliveness of everything. Including the rocks. Everything was buzzing with life and love.

But the word that kept coming to my mind was happiness. I sensed at a deep level the joyful oneness all wrapped in love. I can’t explain it. Words don’t suffice. But it was real, and I knew it! I’ve “known” this for many years now… culminating in a flash of insight I experienced in 2009 that led to the eventual leaving of the ministry and church the next year. This experience has never left me but it gave me a peace of mind that has never left. To tangibly feel and experience this in the isolation of nature was profound.

Now… I knew I would be heading back into the fray in a couple of days. But I knew, just like the peace of mind that settled on me in 2009 never left, I knew this sense of joyful and loving oneness would never leave either.

It’s that kind of knowledge that transcends the overwhelming “reality” that perpetually attempts to impose itself upon us. This is not to say there is no suffering or sadness or struggle or strife. But it is to say that these are choppy and often frightening waves only on the surface of a deeply peaceful and joyful current of love.

I just knew I would come home to continue doing my small part to alleviate the suffering of others. 

Because I want everyone to know this joyful oneness of love as well. 

Everyone!

Including you!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I really appreciate Gabor Maté’s work. I just received his newly released book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture, and read this in its first few pages:

“… chronic illness— mental or physical— is to a large extent a function or feature of the way things are and not a glitch; a consequence of how we live, not a mysterious aberration.”

A FINAL NOTE

Thank you for sticking with me, I know this was a long one!

And thank you again for all of the birthday wishes and for supporting my birthday sale. 

Remember that the joy you find when you're out on an adventure can stay with you, even when you return to the fray. 

Much love, my friends! 

David

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