Michelangelo and My Journey

The process of becoming is the journey of a lifetime.  The excitement of repeatedly watching your “new” self emerge from the cocoon of your “old” self is what makes the journey worthwhile.  The excitement is in the journey.

The significance of my journey was revealed to me in Europe.  While I was on a study abroad trip with (then) George Wythe College, we saw many great things, cities, landmarks, cultures and art.  The entire trip was a beautiful new experience for me.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to see the David sculpture in the Galleria in the city of Florence, Italy.  This was to be a highlight for my daughter, Janessa.  She has loved Michelangelo’s art for many years.  It was important for me to be able to bring her here to see the David in person.  As for me, art had not yet captured my soul.  I loved colors, and enjoyed having them and working with them, but a true classic piece of art did not hold the mystique and wonder and beauty that I saw so many others appreciate.

As we walked in the museum, we saw many items of interest.  The main flows of people were headed to see the David.  As we entered the corridor that led to the David, we could see him standing majestically in a room at the end of the hall, raised up on a giant pedestal.  It seemed all eyes were fixed on him as the people slowly moved towards him.

I almost never made it to the end of that hall.  Seeing the David became of little importance to me.  It was what was in that hall that became my focus.  It became my reason for visiting the Galleria.  What was in that hall suddenly made my heart swell, my eyes tear up and my breath get stuck in my throat.  I turned to see the statue at my right, and after but a few seconds of contemplation, I saw a man, struggling to emerge from the granite block that held him captive.  I saw the strain of his muscles, the pain on his face, the sheer determination to break and be free!

I felt his struggle in the fibers of my own being.  I too was struggling, trying to break free of the granite rock that held me captive.  The rock that kept me back, that chained me to my old self.  Like this figure, I had started my journey to freedom.  I had tasted what the new me might be like.  A wisp of the fresh air on that part of my skin that was free of the granite was enough to give me the motivation, the strength to continue the struggle.  I was teased by that taste of fresh air, into a long and ardent journey.

I saw in that unfinished slave something that for him would never be, but that I was sure I, a living breathing daughter of God could be.  In my minds eye, I saw a finished product.

That vision of a finished product is enough to make the struggle worth every ounce of effort.  That vision gives me peace in times of trial, that vision gives me the hope to move on, when all seems hopeless, that vision gives me the strength to climb walls and even, step by step, mountains.

That step by step climb is a birth.  Birth is an amazing thing.  To see a newborn babe enter this world is nothing short of a miracle.  But the fact is, giving birth to a new “you” is every bit as much a miracle, and requires every bit as much struggle and hard work.  And it holds every bit as much value to see the new person born from the old.

The process of becoming is the journey of a lifetime.  The excitement of watching your “new” self emerge from the granite of your “old” self is what makes the journey worthwhile.  The excitement is in the becoming.

Brenda Haws

Written October 8, 2008

Had the courage to share – September 6, 2013