[Music] what would happen if we all were to take
what would happen if we all were to take
what would happen if we all were to take a year off and travel the world it’s a
a year off and travel the world it’s a
a year off and travel the world it’s a hard question to answer but in the short
hard question to answer but in the short
hard question to answer but in the short time that I’m standing before you I will
time that I’m standing before you I will
time that I’m standing before you I will try and give at least one answer that I
try and give at least one answer that I
try and give at least one answer that I believe can benefit everyone in this
believe can benefit everyone in this
believe can benefit everyone in this room no matter what age now when I first
room no matter what age now when I first
room no matter what age now when I first saw the theme for this event I was
saw the theme for this event I was
saw the theme for this event I was honestly super excited I looked and saw
honestly super excited I looked and saw
honestly super excited I looked and saw it said bursting the bubble so many
it said bursting the bubble so many
it said bursting the bubble so many ideas were rolling around in my head
ideas were rolling around in my head
ideas were rolling around in my head that it was hard to narrow it down to
that it was hard to narrow it down to
that it was hard to narrow it down to one and as I frantically draw all down
one and as I frantically draw all down
one and as I frantically draw all down notes it hit me when I was in my Rome
notes it hit me when I was in my Rome
notes it hit me when I was in my Rome Italy hotel room traveling is that the
Italy hotel room traveling is that the
Italy hotel room traveling is that the specific moment I realized in the words
specific moment I realized in the words
specific moment I realized in the words of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz I
of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz I
of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz I wasn’t in Kansas anymore I was in a
wasn’t in Kansas anymore I was in a
wasn’t in Kansas anymore I was in a completely different country where the
completely different country where the
completely different country where the culture the traditions the rites the
culture the traditions the rites the
culture the traditions the rites the rituals I had no idea about I was a
rituals I had no idea about I was a
rituals I had no idea about I was a foreigner and they were the natives
foreigner and they were the natives
foreigner and they were the natives there it was in kind of a good way to
there it was in kind of a good way to
there it was in kind of a good way to put it a reality check my experience is
put it a reality check my experience is
put it a reality check my experience is an experience which a lot of people who
an experience which a lot of people who
an experience which a lot of people who have traveled can most likely relate to
have traveled can most likely relate to
have traveled can most likely relate to it’s that jolt from life that says hey
it’s that jolt from life that says hey
it’s that jolt from life that says hey you’re not you’re the only thing in the
you’re not you’re the only thing in the
you’re not you’re the only thing in the world the world is a lot bigger than you
world the world is a lot bigger than you
world the world is a lot bigger than you think it is so now for a quick survey
think it is so now for a quick survey
think it is so now for a quick survey how many of you have traveled on a
how many of you have traveled on a
how many of you have traveled on a missions trip whether with a church or
missions trip whether with a church or
missions trip whether with a church or any other organization that offers that
any other organization that offers that
any other organization that offers that kind of program awesome now how many of
kind of program awesome now how many of
kind of program awesome now how many of you have seen the CNN Heroes series
you have seen the CNN Heroes series
you have seen the CNN Heroes series which tends to document the lives of
which tends to document the lives of
which tends to document the lives of people living in other countries doing
people living in other countries doing
people living in other countries doing great things around the world awesome so
great things around the world awesome so
great things around the world awesome so you can see how and I figured you’d
you can see how and I figured you’d
you can see how and I figured you’d presume speaking to a Costa Rican farmer
presume speaking to a Costa Rican farmer
presume speaking to a Costa Rican farmer or a Pakistani factory worker would be a
or a Pakistani factory worker would be a
or a Pakistani factory worker would be a lot different than seeing on TV believe
lot different than seeing on TV believe
lot different than seeing on TV believe me I love television television is one
me I love television television is one
me I love television television is one of my favorite media outlets but nothing
of my favorite media outlets but nothing
of my favorite media outlets but nothing comes close to true face to face human
comes close to true face to face human
comes close to true face to face human interaction humans are genetically
interaction humans are genetically
interaction humans are genetically social creatures we’re in our DNA
social creatures we’re in our DNA
social creatures we’re in our DNA supposed to interact with others
supposed to interact with others
supposed to interact with others so when we don’t interact with others it
so when we don’t interact with others it
so when we don’t interact with others it creates isolationism isolationism is the
creates isolationism isolationism is the
creates isolationism isolationism is the bane of human existence because it has
bane of human existence because it has
bane of human existence because it has us create opinions that obviously aren’t
us create opinions that obviously aren’t
us create opinions that obviously aren’t true because we have no other side to
true because we have no other side to
true because we have no other side to tell us these opinions aren’t true and
tell us these opinions aren’t true and
tell us these opinions aren’t true and sadly a lot of people in the world are
sadly a lot of people in the world are
sadly a lot of people in the world are victims of isolationism and it’s not me
victims of isolationism and it’s not me
victims of isolationism and it’s not me to say that it’s a bad thing they’re
to say that it’s a bad thing they’re
to say that it’s a bad thing they’re just simply ignorant to the plights of
just simply ignorant to the plights of
just simply ignorant to the plights of others I’ve met far too many people in
others I’ve met far too many people in
others I’ve met far too many people in my life that are quick to assume
my life that are quick to assume
my life that are quick to assume foreigners are here to just be lazy in
foreigners are here to just be lazy in
foreigners are here to just be lazy in mooch off the United States government
mooch off the United States government
mooch off the United States government and live off of our hard work but I
and live off of our hard work but I
and live off of our hard work but I realized that’s not the case and a few
realized that’s not the case and a few
realized that’s not the case and a few years ago my opinions changed greatly
years ago my opinions changed greatly
years ago my opinions changed greatly when I went to Costa Rica in 2015 with
when I went to Costa Rica in 2015 with
when I went to Costa Rica in 2015 with the st. Christopher’s freshman rising
the st. Christopher’s freshman rising
the st. Christopher’s freshman rising freshman service trip I was a 5 foot
freshman service trip I was a 5 foot
freshman service trip I was a 5 foot fresh out of middle school kid who
fresh out of middle school kid who
fresh out of middle school kid who thought I was the center of the world
thought I was the center of the world
thought I was the center of the world and it turns out I couldn’t have been
and it turns out I couldn’t have been
and it turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong when I first arrived in San
more wrong when I first arrived in San
more wrong when I first arrived in San Jose and I looked around into all the
Jose and I looked around into all the
Jose and I looked around into all the signs in Spanish I thought to myself wow
signs in Spanish I thought to myself wow
signs in Spanish I thought to myself wow this is a lot different than America and
this is a lot different than America and
this is a lot different than America and when we took out and we went to the
when we took out and we went to the
when we took out and we went to the Panama’s Costa Rican border and I took
Panama’s Costa Rican border and I took
Panama’s Costa Rican border and I took out a boat to our village in which I
out a boat to our village in which I
out a boat to our village in which I stayed I realized this is how people
stayed I realized this is how people
stayed I realized this is how people live and people live in situations that
live and people live in situations that
live and people live in situations that probably a lot of us couldn’t even
probably a lot of us couldn’t even
probably a lot of us couldn’t even imagine unless we go there now when I
imagine unless we go there now when I
imagine unless we go there now when I stayed with a host family which was
stayed with a host family which was
stayed with a host family which was personally my highlight of the trip I
personally my highlight of the trip I
personally my highlight of the trip I didn’t know what to expect
didn’t know what to expect
didn’t know what to expect these are people who of course I had
these are people who of course I had
these are people who of course I had never met before and I would be
never met before and I would be
never met before and I would be practically living with them for about
practically living with them for about
practically living with them for about five days and they’re about four people
five days and they’re about four people
five days and they’re about four people in this family and it was headed by this
in this family and it was headed by this
in this family and it was headed by this main person who was the father and when
main person who was the father and when
main person who was the father and when I looked at and saw what he did he would
I looked at and saw what he did he would
I looked at and saw what he did he would get up an hour before sunrise and he
get up an hour before sunrise and he
get up an hour before sunrise and he wouldn’t go to bed until about midnight
wouldn’t go to bed until about midnight
wouldn’t go to bed until about midnight our time and I thought to myself this is
our time and I thought to myself this is
our time and I thought to myself this is the ideal figure of a father someone who
the ideal figure of a father someone who
the ideal figure of a father someone who is willing to do everything for the
is willing to do everything for the
is willing to do everything for the people he loves and the people he
people he loves and the people he
people he loves and the people he supports and when I had the chance to
supports and when I had the chance to
supports and when I had the chance to finally sit down and talk to him he told
finally sit down and talk to him he told
finally sit down and talk to him he told me exactly what I thought
me exactly what I thought
me exactly what I thought that all he wanted in life was for the
that all he wanted in life was for the
that all he wanted in life was for the people around him to be supported and to
people around him to be supported and to
people around him to be supported and to be well fed and to be happy it burst my
be well fed and to be happy it burst my
be well fed and to be happy it burst my bubble of ignorance I realized that no
bubble of ignorance I realized that no
bubble of ignorance I realized that no as a foreigner he’s not lazy he’s not
as a foreigner he’s not lazy he’s not
as a foreigner he’s not lazy he’s not someone who doesn’t work he’s someone
someone who doesn’t work he’s someone
someone who doesn’t work he’s someone who works probably a lot harder than
who works probably a lot harder than
who works probably a lot harder than some people in America do and it made me
some people in America do and it made me
some people in America do and it made me think that isolationism is a huge
think that isolationism is a huge
think that isolationism is a huge problem that I’ve been ignorant for far
problem that I’ve been ignorant for far
problem that I’ve been ignorant for far too long I may never meet that man again
too long I may never meet that man again
too long I may never meet that man again but if I were I would tell him thank you
but if I were I would tell him thank you
but if I were I would tell him thank you for all that he’s done for teaching me
for all that he’s done for teaching me
for all that he’s done for teaching me about the wonders of the rainforest and
about the wonders of the rainforest and
about the wonders of the rainforest and teaching me about the ancient fables and
teaching me about the ancient fables and
teaching me about the ancient fables and myths and my favorite how to shoot the
myths and my favorite how to shoot the
myths and my favorite how to shoot the breeze in Spanish to delve into another
breeze in Spanish to delve into another
breeze in Spanish to delve into another quick story I went to Rome Italy for
quick story I went to Rome Italy for
quick story I went to Rome Italy for xterm this year with st. Christopher’s
xterm this year with st. Christopher’s
xterm this year with st. Christopher’s and during a couple of the days we were
and during a couple of the days we were
and during a couple of the days we were allowed to go in trios and groups and
allowed to go in trios and groups and
allowed to go in trios and groups and explore the city of Rome and I loved
explore the city of Rome and I loved
explore the city of Rome and I loved Rome because Rome is so inviting and
Rome because Rome is so inviting and
Rome because Rome is so inviting and warm and it feels like everyone there is
warm and it feels like everyone there is
warm and it feels like everyone there is willing to give a smile and have you
willing to give a smile and have you
willing to give a smile and have you come in and try a slice of pizza or a
come in and try a slice of pizza or a
come in and try a slice of pizza or a little bit of pasta which made me very
little bit of pasta which made me very
little bit of pasta which made me very happy and for me I love music a lot of
happy and for me I love music a lot of
happy and for me I love music a lot of you may know that but when I travel to
you may know that but when I travel to
you may know that but when I travel to Rome I thought to myself I’m going to go
Rome I thought to myself I’m going to go
Rome I thought to myself I’m going to go at least to at least one Italian music
at least to at least one Italian music
at least to at least one Italian music shop and see if they’re any different
shop and see if they’re any different
shop and see if they’re any different than the ones in the United States and
than the ones in the United States and
than the ones in the United States and so I search street corner and street
so I search street corner and street
so I search street corner and street corner when I finally came upon a music
corner when I finally came upon a music
corner when I finally came upon a music shop in Italy I struck up a short
shop in Italy I struck up a short
shop in Italy I struck up a short conversation with a shop owner
conversation with a shop owner
conversation with a shop owner I couldn’t understand much of what he
I couldn’t understand much of what he
I couldn’t understand much of what he was saying but then he began speaking in
was saying but then he began speaking in
was saying but then he began speaking in a language that needs no words he began
a language that needs no words he began
a language that needs no words he began speaking with music music is a universal
speaking with music music is a universal
speaking with music music is a universal language because no matter what language
language because no matter what language
language because no matter what language you speak orally you can feel music and
you speak orally you can feel music and
you speak orally you can feel music and you can feel the emotions that people
you can feel the emotions that people
you can feel the emotions that people present with music when he played a
present with music when he played a
present with music when he played a short piano sonata for me I thought to
short piano sonata for me I thought to
short piano sonata for me I thought to myself that how does this person who
myself that how does this person who
myself that how does this person who I’ve never met before share the same
I’ve never met before share the same
I’ve never met before share the same level of passion for music that I do and
level of passion for music that I do and
level of passion for music that I do and so when I came over and played a short
so when I came over and played a short
so when I came over and played a short waltz I felt that I wasn’t good enough
waltz I felt that I wasn’t good enough
waltz I felt that I wasn’t good enough because I was simply in awe of how
because I was simply in awe of how
because I was simply in awe of how amazing this guy was at music now I
amazing this guy was at music now I
amazing this guy was at music now I don’t tell these two
don’t tell these two
don’t tell these two worries to share political motive or to
worries to share political motive or to
worries to share political motive or to make you feel sad that you aren’t
make you feel sad that you aren’t
make you feel sad that you aren’t traveling or to get you to immediately
traveling or to get you to immediately
traveling or to get you to immediately go traveling I’m simply telling you
go traveling I’m simply telling you
go traveling I’m simply telling you these stories because I just want you to
these stories because I just want you to
these stories because I just want you to think for a moment think about going out
think for a moment think about going out
think for a moment think about going out and traveling because I believe every
and traveling because I believe every
and traveling because I believe every single one of you can share these
single one of you can share these
single one of you can share these experiences that I didn’t we can break
experiences that I didn’t we can break
experiences that I didn’t we can break old habits and create bonds that you may
old habits and create bonds that you may
old habits and create bonds that you may never see them again will last a
never see them again will last a
never see them again will last a lifetime we should create programs that
lifetime we should create programs that
lifetime we should create programs that allow people to travel maybe four months
allow people to travel maybe four months
allow people to travel maybe four months long programs we can have it so you work
long programs we can have it so you work
long programs we can have it so you work to pay off the expenses of your travel
to pay off the expenses of your travel
to pay off the expenses of your travel in your hotel Billings but of course
in your hotel Billings but of course
in your hotel Billings but of course that’s a far-fetched theory so if you
that’s a far-fetched theory so if you
that’s a far-fetched theory so if you have the time to take a semester abroad
have the time to take a semester abroad
have the time to take a semester abroad or go travel for the summer or spring
or go travel for the summer or spring
or go travel for the summer or spring break I say do it I say all of this
break I say do it I say all of this
break I say do it I say all of this hoping that you call you all can spread
hoping that you call you all can spread
hoping that you call you all can spread my message of travel and love so that
my message of travel and love so that
my message of travel and love so that eventually in the words of michael gira
eventually in the words of michael gira
eventually in the words of michael gira from one of my favorite bands swans we
from one of my favorite bands swans we
from one of my favorite bands swans we can create a little more peace in the
can create a little more peace in the
can create a little more peace in the world so to go back to the original
world so to go back to the original
world so to go back to the original question of what would happen if we all
question of what would happen if we all
question of what would happen if we all took a year off I can answer it simply
took a year off I can answer it simply
took a year off I can answer it simply we can take small but necessary steps to
we can take small but necessary steps to
we can take small but necessary steps to create peace in our world thank you all
create peace in our world thank you all
create peace in our world thank you all and have a good rest of you
”
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