Connecting the Physical with the Empty Spaces in Your Mind

Lisbon Life 2014

When I was eight years-old I drew a map.  I still have it.  I stumble upon it every few years when I am rummaging or moving.  The sight of it, is like a light beam shining on where my childhood lies hidden in darkness on a dusty shelf.  In the circle of light there is an explosion of memories, sights, sounds, smells and emotions. The map contains drawings of great battle sites, names of secret tunnels, tree forts, abandoned houses, stripped cars, blackberry shrubs, wild apple, hazelnut and cherry trees, the faces of lost friends and the hidden paths that connect them all.

The locations on the map had names like; the islands, the ferns, happy hippie hideout, typewriter fort, motorcycle jumps, stoners' camp, the VW, the dump, the white house, attack dogs and the secret trail.  Each location contains a library of stories.

Without the map, my memories would be disconnected and faded.  The map ties them together into a story with a timeline, location and story collection in a way that a blank piece of paper would not. Maps of the world are similar.  Seeing thin inked borders outlined on a map do not elicit a powerful response from my senses or emotions.  They remain lines on paper surrounding unexplored territory. Empty spaces call out to me.

Traveling, adventuring and experiencing fill in the blanks between the borders.  These activities are the work of collectors.  Collectors of memories, faces, smiles, conversations, coffee shops, pubs, cigarette smoke, buildings, music, cobblestone alleys, insights, comforts and discomforts.

Lisbon 2014

As often as possible, Shawna and I look for empty spaces between the lines, and feel the urge to populate the spaces with a new story to add to our collection.

I remember sitting with Shawna a few years ago and looking at a map of the USA.  There were many empty spaces on our geographical mind map. The great state of Maine appeared blank.  We had indirect impressions, but our personal mind maps were blank.  They contained no stories. We solved that.  The outline of Maine is now packed floor to ceiling with memories and stories.

My USA Travels

In the bible, stories are connected with time lines, locations, genealogies, journeys, experiences, people, insights, tragedies and celebrations.  They are mind maps filled to the ceiling with collected stories.  What makes the bible special in ways other historic books aren't, is that the story includes our story own.  When we travel we are thrilled to stand on the location of these recorded events and to let their stories and our senses experience them.  And then to connect their stories with our own.

Last week Shawna and I attended Donald Miller's Storyline conference.  It was insightful, motivating, inspirational and informative.  We learned that we all live a story worth telling, but rarely do we share it.  The vast majority of us will take our stories to the grave.  To me that is a monumental tragedy.