A Speech From The Wanderer

    I know most of you have heard about my mistakes. Half of you might walk away right now but let me beg you. Please don’t leave. Not yet. Give me the chance to explain something to you. After that, I don’t care what you do with me. 

I will not go into the things I have done, that is not what is important. What really matters is what happened to me after all of that. After my faults were dragged into the open for all of society to see. After I was ridiculed and rejected.

I address you today to tell you about my experiences. To tell you about the knowledge I gained while I was away. My hope is that you will understand me just a little more. That maybe you will hold your judgments back and bite your tongues long enough for me to teach you something.

For all of those who know what pain is,

For those who have been hurt,

For those who feel caged in,

For those who are missing something

And for those who want to live.

I learned what it is to truly live. 

I was caught up in society. I am ashamed of who I used to be. But because I decided to take a look at myself, I was able to change. I have seen the progress and I am fulfilled.

To be a wanderer with no where to go, drifting in the wind like a leaf, uncertain and unwanted, is a hidden torture. It is pain that only numbs with time. 

But what I learned in my absence is that I have the power to change that. 

To be a wanderer with no destination in mind but a hope to find someplace grand, curious to see where the wind blows, uncertain but excited, is a beautiful thing. It is a joy that brings to life contentment.

While I traveled, I realized that fear of the unknown is the greatest storm that rains down regret and missed opportunities. It is a wall that hides from you what it truly is to live. It hides the sky behind the storm.

I thought I was lost. I was a wanderer, aimlessly searching for something that was missing but I had no idea what would bring me happiness. It was an emotion so exquisite that I couldn’t possibly imagine how I could feel that, so deep was it buried in my soul.

But something on my journey was heart altering.

I came upon the edge of a rock face and looked down at the sight below me. A cloudy white sea of fog swirled in exciting twists. It made me contemplate the decisions I’d made. My heart was aching because that fog hid everything below. It left me with such uncertainty, the scene mirrored my life. A life full of pain, hurt, bondage, loss . . .

Standing alone on a mountain as a wanderer above the sea of fog, I was hopeless. I felt that soul deep yearning for a purpose. I wanted that purpose to find me because I was so lost. 

And do you know what I learned?

I watched the cloudy horizon begin to burn. It was a bright blinding orange that set the valley on fire. Through the fog, a sunrise burst, a hope that filled my eyes with tears. And I knew. 

This is what it was like to be free.

To stand as a conqueror at the top of a mountain.

This is how it felt to have hope for a future,

To be full of life again.

This is what it was to change.

And I knew then that I had to find my purpose, not wait for it to come to me.

So as I said, I wanted you all to understand who I am now. But this isn’t about me, it’s about all of you. Society is harsh and cruel. Each and every one of you deserves to be happy and to be who you are without the criticisms of others. I used to care too much about what you thought of me and that was my downfall. It ruined me. But like the sun I have risen over my sea of fog and the fear of uncertainty.

That is why I am here. I know I have been cast out but I hope that I can make amends.

I now come to an end of my words. Consider what I’ve told you. 

Because everyone makes mistakes.

And I’m sorry for mine.

 Inspiration from the painting; Wanderer Above The Sea Of Fog