Carry the Fire

This morning I finished my first read of 2022. It was ‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy. I have read some of his work in the past, but this one was quite different.

This is not a book review, but more of a reflection of what I learned from this book, something that should be mandatory in your choosing of the next book to read- can you learn from it and what will you learn from it?

I will break my promise and say, as a short review, I loved the book. I enjoy his style. Unique.

More importantly I took some lessons from it. I will not review or reveal the plot, as most of you know it already or can easily find out, but the parallels between the storyline and my current life situation should be clear.

A father protecting, and teaching, his son. Preparing him for life. Also, learning from him as you go.

These are the throughlines of the story that match my last 18 months. It is amazing how much you can learn from anything or anyone, if you just pay attention. You may have heard me say that before, somewhere.

There were many points in this book that truly hit home. Specific sentences. Broader paragraphs. Heart-wrenching conversations. Life lessons for fathers, parents, children, men, women, and everyone in between. Everyone. The book, and conversations, are short and to the point. Direct. How real life should be, for the most part, except for the “short” part.

No spoilers, but towards the end of the story, the father really begins to instill in his son the lessons learned over many years that he, the son, should be ready to carry forward. But, overall, the father did a great job of this throughout. I would love to replicate that, and I hope I am. Preparing my son for the life and world that is coming. Preparing him in case I am not around.

This sounds macabre, but I think it is actually realistic and smart and ideal. You never know when your child may be without you, unable to soak in those real-time lessons from your teachings, or just through observation.

I now plan to be more intentional with my lessons and how my son witnesses my actions. I want him to be prepared and be able to prepare others. Even if he doesn't know it at the time.

I want him to carry the fire. And I know he will.

-Houston (@BumpBailey)