who are you and where are you going?

hola! it has been a little while since i wrote regularly...that's all positioned to change in the coming days. the reason is simple: i think i'm made to write. how do i know? because when i don't do it i feel like something is missing! the truth is that though it is a discipline to sit down and write...once i move past the initial inertia of procrastination i LOVE what happens when i put words to thoughts.

there's a story told of Akiva, the 1st century rabbi called "Rosh la-Chachamim" (Head of all the Sages), in the Talmud. He tells of the time he approached a city gate at night and heard the guard yell down to him "who are you and where are you going?!" Akiva called back to the city guard, "what do they pay you to ask these questions?!" the guard puzzled for a moment and then responded, "2 drachma!" to which Akiva responded, "i will pay you double to ask me those questions everyday for the rest of my life!"

the story crystalizes the great wisdom of the sages: understanding our identity is priceless if we are to discover direction for our lives. Akiva knew the invaluable riches of being able to consistently focus on our identity and our momentum because these more than anything shape our purpose for living.

today as i consider 'writing', i realize that it is a seemingly small part of why i am here. still, my desire to communicate and express what is inside me hints at who i may be...a writer, a communicator, maybe a storyteller. and though i am part of all those things, i still haven't arrived at my core identity as far as i know. so i take a step closer by beginning to ask myself these questions, the theory being that if i can keep these questions before me...i will fulfill the purpose for which i am made.

who are you? where are you going?