“in dreams begins responsibility” – W.B. Yeats (it was Delmore Shwartz that later re-worded it.)

Next week, I’m going traveling through Europe. My usual travel plans usually around driving across America, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I will be backpacking through Madrid, Milan, Locarno and Dublin. It’s essentially because of a Murakami book that misquotes a century old Irishman.

“in dreams begin responsibilities”

I write this on all of my notebooks. There’s a good chance I’m going to tattoo it on my chest. You see, I believe that we have a responsibility to our imaginations, particularly our dreams. Two weeks ago, I dreamt that I was crossing on a bridge in the clouds from Italy into Switzerland. On this bridge in the clouds, I was told the answers to my questions. What are these questions? I don’t know right now.

The trip will take me into three countries where I don’t know the language. It will cost me over $2,000, eat up what little vacation I have and I’ll be traveling alone and abroad when I could be spending time with my family. I had two weeks notice to plan to this trip and since my job situation is in flux and my church stuff is in transition, this trip is imprudent, untimely and unwise.

Nevertheless, it is important for me to go. I was scared. I felt like the stakes were high this time and I was at a crossroads about the kind of person I would become. I want to believe in license—in our ability to shape our destinies with sheer volition. I don’t know if I’ll find what I’m looking for. I’m not entirely sure what it is, but as long as the dreams keep coming, I’m going to keep looking.