I write about this word constantly, and long time readers may even have tired of my relentless ramblings on the subject, yet I am so passionate about it. Here is my theory:
Every job you and I have ever had and will ever have is simply a different means of transporting different things. Pilots, taxi drivers, and train conductors transport people. Mailmen, truck drivers, and UPS delivery men all transport goods. Maids, janitors, and landscapers move dirt, dust, and excrement from one place to another. Baristas, chefs, and waitresses move ingredients into a bowl, then to the oven, then to the table for the customers to enjoy. Think about every job you’ve had. What were you moving?
We move food from our hands to our mouths to our stomachs. We move clothes onto and off of our bodies. We move words around to create new books and poems and songs. Music itself is a vibration of molecules!
Anyway, since the nature of life is motion, who are we to fight it? I know that in the large scheme of things, four years may not appear to be that daunting to someone. Yet, to me, the restless wanderbundle of fluid energy, it is a lifetime. What in the world could I be missing while I sit here in Chicago, performing my mandatory studies and following rules!
I had a conversation tonight with a friend of mine here in Chi-Town. I explained that, yes, it may be idolatrous to need to travel so much (Jeremiah 2:31-37), which is something the Lord has graciously been convicting me of recently. However, I do feel so much closer to the Lord when on the wide open road. I recounted to him my year thus far, including a total of 26 flights, 3 road trips, and some backpacking escapades. Reliving the memories of those trips just reminded me of how sedentary I have become recently, and made me hunger for more; for that nearness to God that I feel when I am alone with and dependent on Him.
I miss the dancing phone lines I watched taking the Amtrak from New Haven to New York City. They bounced up and down, drawn with a pencil against the vivid blue morning sky of the northeast. I remember how beautiful every woman became when my mind was not filled with the clutter of the internet or television. Every man became more accommodating and real. I miss the rolling waves of golden grain as my car shot across the prairies of the midwest, through the lonely and forgotten towns that freckle the highways of America. I long for that landscape that lay bare its shoulders before Dave and I as we crested a hill in the Utah back country. We could see over the sandy desert land for miles and miles, until sandstone plateaus rose on the horizon under the grey ceiling of early June. My soul pines for the streets of Paris, where we haphazardly wandered about the ancient Champs-Élysées and gazed on the mighty iron tower. Or Nigeria, where we sang a capella worship songs at the top of our lungs, because no instruments other than clapping hands were required.
We all long to travel, and few are brave enough to take that first step. There are no such things as plans; only battles with time and place. Your “plan” is where you are right now, and I wish all my readers the best with moving beyond that. We cannot plan a thing. As Ben Gibbard howls in his song What Sarah Said, “Every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time…” (That’s why I just never understood Planners…..I can’t even plan my day tomorrow, much less a trip I’ll be taking in a few months in a different place!)
The Chocolate Tree’s Strawberry and Pepper Bar – the perfect, edible fashion accessory. Sorry, the bag isn’t included!
I’m going to let you into a secret. Journalists who work in fashion, beauty and food celebrate Christmas early, in July! It might seem rather strange, but in fact it is eminently practical. How else can I bring you news on what to fall in love with, ahead of the pack!
So, as you all know how much I can’t live without seriously good organic chocolate, with added benefits – I am going to share my excitement at meeting Charlotte and Julia, two amazing women behind Chocolat Lovers – a new, online chocolate atelier entirely devoted to showcasing the finest artisan chocolate. For real, high quality chocolate is one of one of the most versatile, interesting and good for you ingredients that really does deserve the epithet – food of the gods.
Julia and Charlotte have tasted and travelled their way around the UK from the Highlands of Scotland to elegant, historic Henley, to uncover the new wave of chocolate stars and alchemists with chocolate to tantalise the most discerning palate from raw to sugar free and organic and Fairtrade too.
My highlights: Mulu’s utterly cute, raw chocolate truffles, which look like jewels; to Gorvett and Stone’s extraordinary, all that glitters, miraculous, Christmas coal, cinder toffee. I will be writing about this festive chocolate fancy again. For the moment, I can tell you that it offers a genius combination of sherbet and citrus balanced by creamy milk chocolate, followed by a melt in the mouth, gooey crunch from the honeycomb, made with local honey. Pure pleasure! I also love the chocolate evolution at Seed and Bean, this year’s official chocolate purveyors at Glastonbury, who have just launched their rather naughty and adorable, handbag sized chocolate bars – with my favourite – a 72 per cent extra dark bar with mandarin and ginger. This is a satisfying bar, with just the right combination of bittersweet cacao, orange and a spice, with a lingering after hit of ginger.
My ultimate chocolate crush and EH Chocolate of the Week is: The Chocolate Tree’s Strawberry and Black pepper bar. These exquisite artisan bars are mini masterpieces in chocolate art. They also taste as good as they look. Each bar is hand finished with pretty pieces of dried strawberry, which works very well with the lingering kick of black pepper which brings out the sweetness of the strawberries. I also like the zingy, fruits of the forest bar. This is a grown up, sophisticated chocolate bar that will have you purring with pleasure. Now here’s a thought. How about accessorizing a dress with matching chocolate bar? The only problem? – These bars are so beautiful you might indulge in a little agony before unwrapping it, and savouring every bite – but not for too long! All part of the pleasure -yummy!
To visit Chocolat Lovers please click here: Please note, Ethical Hedonist is an affiliate partner with Chocolat Lovers. By clicking from our links, you are helping to support Ethical Hedonist as an independent magazine with ethical principles. Thank you.