Sky-Witness

My witness is the empty sky. My reward is the perfect blue sky at dawn in the desert in a bird-resounding riverbottom grove.

- Jack Kerouac

I’m curious about people who work on themselves for the heaven and hell of it, unafraid of failure or disappointment. I’m drawn to people who appreciate the possibility of defeat, thriving in the transformation. I’m thirsty for the ones who don’t feel compelled to share every bit of their lives in the hopes of making somebody proud or jealous. They simply live it—learning how to do things, and taking care with what’s worth doing.

I’ve seen glimpses of these unicorns—self-assured creatures who are quick to listen. They won’t tell me what to do unless I ask. They are masterfully kind in the tiniest of interactions and deeply grateful for help they rarely need, but truly appreciate. These are the kinds of people I want to lead me.

The trouble is, the self-content aren’t greedy to grow their impact or to be visible in their work. I think their struggle isn’t faith in the process or themselves, but in me. They can and will grow themselves in a hundred ways without my help. I am the uncontrollable that may be too big of a risk, and I have likely given them plenty of supporting evidence.

I pray they decide to take on the responsibility of more anyway—more visible, open contribution. I pray they can trust their own ability to teach when they cannot yet trust me to be worthy of instruction. And I hope with everything in me that I can create spaces where their contribution is revered.