Northington Notes--Roads
 
In life today all roads are said to lead somewhere. In times of long ago youth my friend and I often set out to hitchhike around the county. In those fine days the process was simple as people were more trusting and trustworthy than sometimes is found today. We would set out on a fine summer day and follow the trail to wherever and whenever we managed to go. Mostly we landed in small towns where we could wander a bit and travel back home. Thankfully our parents either did not know of our exploits or at least had the good sense not to comment.

Today roads are a normal part of everyday life. We get in our cars, on our bicycles, or start walking down a road expecting to arrive at a place we may or may not know well. In fact roads are more interesting than most of us allow. Predicting the future in terms of where we will go, or even more what we will see along the way, is not very accurate outside the generalities. It is important to take time to see the sights and hear the sounds of our journey.

As a perpetual walker these days I am confounded by the people who travel trails and roads plugged in to an electronic device either listening to music or talking to a far away person on the telephone. The missing joy of experiencing the feel and the sights of nature fails my understanding.
So often today we allow ourselves to travel the road of life as directed by others. We dance to the tune of the media or listen to the sounds of politicians and other leader types. It is important for us to follow our own road and to insure we experience the fullness of whatever comes our way. We may be led astray otherwise.

Or if we do not know our own road we may follow a road set by another without questioning or without observing in proper order. The day after day experience of interacting with the road we travel is important no matter where or when that road leads. We may predict our arrival at a friend's home, but who can know what sights, sounds, events, distractions, or amazements may accompany our trip. Only by opening our eyes and ears to the fullness of our world does the road become the personal adventure we deserve.

Try bits at a time if you do not already focus on your world to watch for the little joys that surround us day by day. The big picture will overwhelm sometimes if we fail to see the tiny bits that make up the larger picture. It is the bits coming together that offer the fullness we so often miss by staring at a screen or closing our ears to the surrounding world.

Peace.

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Quote of the Week:

When all's said and done, all roads lead to the same end. So it's not so much which road you take, as how you take it.-- Charles de Lint

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