YMCA locker room

It’s three weeks before my son Ryan and I leave for a return trip to the Omo region of Ethiopia, the birthplace of modern man. We have our $70-each Ethiopia Tourist Visas good for 3 months. Today, I will buy a new tent to replace the aging backpacker one that my wife and I bought for our Honeymoon some 28 years ago. We have all of the necessary shots and malaria pills. We’re ready.

But I’m having doubts. As I’m pulling up my tan Dockers one leg at a time, big questions loom overhead. Why can’t I be normal, just do my commercial photography work, make money and be happy? Why am I doing this Undiscovered Myth Project? It’s a pain in the pocket book and time and energy spent.

“Just stop,” the reasonable part of me says. “So what you have spent the last 6 years of your life going to the least-touched tribes in the most remote corners of Africa to interview the elders, shaman, chiefs and storytellers about their myths and personal dreams. So what you have spent thousands of hours creating photo illustrations depicting the stories the tribes people told you. So what those images have been displayed in galleries and museums across the United States, including at the United Nations headquarters. Besides a time-and-energy drain, the travel expenses to Africa and the months of lost money-earning work time, the project has put a huge dent in the family finances.”

Right now deadlines trigger the inner conversation. I need to get this E-journal site up and running so that I can talk with corporations and individuals about links and sponsorship. I also want to revamp the Africa’s Undiscovered Myths web site. Two commercial assignments, one a week long, stock photography to optimize, a grandkids play to attend, a winery book to publicize,……..

Suddenly, while buttoning up my shirt, a stillness overtakes me. It’s as if God were silently, but powerfully talking to me. “You’ve got to do this.” This is a project of pure faith.