Risk, Vulnerability, and Surprise - Carter Jobe

 In line with the in-class discussion yesterday, which centered on an essay by Professor Carney detailing his trip to Budapest, the darkness and uncertainty he felt, and how he articulated this experience through words. He mentioned that he traveled to Budapest, unsure if he'd like it, and the brutal and dark social style architecture highlighted this feeling along his journey. In doing so, he took a significant risk, travelling across the world on a backpacking trip, not knowing what he would find. Amongst this darkness, he met a woman named Andrea, who shared a burning passion for the arts. They shared a beautfiul conversation, and it brightened the world for Carney amongst his journey. 

Many people see human connection as the highest form of meaning-making. There is a famous phrase that sounds something like, "It's not about the journey, it's about the people you share it with." I would like to argue that genuine human connection doesn't come without vulnerability and thus risk. When you put yourself out there or approach someone, you're taking a risk in the pursuit of building meaning. When Dr. Carney stated that meaning doesn't come without a particular vulnerability of being in the dark, it really stuck with me. In the essay, Carney's trip to Budapest serves as a metaphor for the great lengths we go to in the pursuit of meaning, love, and connection, and how something as simple as a conversation can be a transformational elixir along this journey.

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