Part Two: Three Rings That Hold a Whole Life

Last week I made you a promise. I said the question “Who am I, really?” is not a problem to be solved but an invitation to be accepted — and that I would hand you a map for the territory it asks you to walk. Welcome back. Pour another cup of coffee. Here is the lay of the land.

Part One: The Question That Won't Leave You Alone

Somewhere around 3:14 in the afternoon — always 3:14 in the afternoon, never any other time — a question shows up that you did not invite and cannot quite dismiss.

It arrives between meetings, or in line at the grocery store, or somewhere between the second and third sip of coffee. Sometimes it shows up at 3:14 in the morning, which is rude. The question is some version of this: