JEJU

Photo Diary May 26th - May 29th

Traveling always provides the richest space for reflection because there is, to a certain degree, the absence of grownup realities. And in duration, the novel scents of sea water and ocean views blur out the messiness and/or the weight of real human life. I don't know if that's a cop-out to adulthood... but Jeju was dreamy in that regard. The weekend felt rich and full as I ventured out with absolutely no plans at all, except for — of course — good food, nice drives in our mint Kia (yass), and unfeigned quality time with a friend.

What I know about myself that I didn't know before this trip is, I am driven by trying to understand, in earnest: What makes human life meaningful? The grandeur of the sea is often the greatest trigger to this question. In Jeju, I stood face to face with the waters on countless occasions, and each time I could pat down the idea that life's virtue certainly has something to do with the depth of our relationships. And as such, for me, I recognized that connection has undergirded the richness and significance that I sense so strongly these days in my late twenties. Adulthood is more often than not an arm and a leg, but it is the opportunities of getaways like these that allow us to be adult and childlike simultaneously. It was perfect.

And I leave you with this: 

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, 'Do it again'; and the grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." -GK Chesterton