So Thursday, after a hormonally charged, emotional, nine-hours-at-two-jobs day I came home to immediately turn around and walk back out with my daughter to head to coffee doubt. Coffee. Doubt. A safe place at a coffee shop where young and not so young adults meet and talk about this drama we call life. To talk about the conflict. God. Doubts. Over coffee.
When we got there the conversation had already started and it was amazing. Four of us, talking through the very thing each of us needed to hear most.
When we came home my daughter shared some videos with me, and I want to share them with you. Because they are the gist of our discussion. The things we wrestle with. They portray two different approaches to solving the conflict of our lives.
They both share the premise that we want to be special, valued. One slams an empty way of pursuing value – that of becoming “pretty” or acheiving a “marketable facade.” The other looks at how we might become a masterpiece, but it is a painful process.
The first link is Katie Makkai presenting her poem “Pretty”. It’s slam poetry. It is powerful, and true and warns of the empty pursuit. (This is an edited version which has removed one offensive word.)
“Women… who haven’t a clue where to find fulfillment or how to wear joy.” We are seeking to find fulfillment and fix this broken world on our own terms. We are aiming for the wrong target. Even if we hit the bullseye, it will not satisfy.
But what are the options? Different targets? A more meaningful pursuit? Or is there another way? A way that is not our way?
I know I can probably never make my daughters not care about being pretty. There are just too many other people out there. But I and Jess will be her shelter from the storm. Makes me cry thinking about it. Robin thanks for posting this.
You changed it a little. It’s good. Glad you found the edited version. You are a very talented writer mom. I appreciate your descriptions. You are pretty intelligent, pretty beautiful, pretty hilarious, and pretty good at teaching me how to walk through this life with God and his strength. Thank you, for being so unique.