4.16.14
Keeping to tradition of learning the ways of the road, I am on a pursuit to understand the heart, as it exists in full. To understand how it ticks with vigor and why it burns with unabashed wanderlust. To find the medium to which I can feed my spirit and contribute to the modern world.
The equality house was our necessary first stop.
The Equality house, sits across the street from Westboro Baptist Church in effort to cure Hate with Love.
Having spent six months living in the kickstarter and a web of emails, I remained in the paperwork of a project. I ask you not to misunderstand as I am humbled by the support of our good fellow humans, but on that interpersonal level, I was so far from feeding inspiration. I waivered in this. How could a project whose very essence exists in the minimalism of the open road turn into a stress lade “job?” In the silence of our leaving, a drive four hour to New Orleans and following 14-hours to Kansas, the answer did not present itself.
Amelia, Matt and Kristen on the roof of the Equality House taking a photo of the participates in the NOH8 campaign.
So when we arrived in Topeka on April 10th and though my ambition relied on spending needed sister time with my dearest friend, I left rooted with desire to extend my energy in progressive cultural change. In the course of two and a half days, Amelia and Davis impressed upon my feeble heart, the timeless importance of giving in love, loving in love, existing in love.
Davis at the Capitol delivering a heart wrenching speech on bullying.
For decades this consciousness has been compromised. To love unabashed is trying when our social existence is plagued by social constructs alternative to our inherent being. I have seen change requires relentless thought, conversation, assessed motivation, action, and patience. Oh patience, that honorable virtue and yet – Amelia and Davis I see it in you both, could bathe in it as it is so visceral.
Our last night together spent outside making music with the ones we love.
Today we travel to New Mexico, our first step toward the west, that vast landscape I have mused over my entire life and I am left with this: how, my wondrous world, do I participate in you? How do I step far enough away from myself to see where help needs hand, where conversation must be had and bring forth love in the threshold of hate?
My answer: I take lessons from the babies who live in the Rainbow house.
Headed west,
Kristen