[Tension & Renewal - XXVIII]
Between puberty and midlife, we build our house of identity. Building the house takes years—no building project is easy—but some have it easier than others.
Some of us are given all the material, delivered on a flatbed truck of religion; we merely unload and follow the instructions. Others of us walk into the wilderness with an ax and have to toil for every resource. Nothing comes easily; nothing is free.
Whether we fought every step of the way or followed someone else’s blueprint, we all eventually arrive at our adult house. We’ve furnished it with values, decorated it with our worldview, and put all the finishing touches on it with our personality. In general, we’ve arrived at the “way we’re suppose to be” and can identify exactly what “the good life” looks like.
As soon as we’re about to get comfortable in our adult house, someone knocks on the door. His name is often something like Doubt, Loneliness, Trauma, Grief, Depression, or Addiction. We can’t ignore him.
And he comes with only one message: Time to leave!
Do you follow?
