THE ROAD MOST TRAVELED

Much has been made about “The Road Less Traveled” – the idea of venturing off the path of the norm and discovering truths about life. However, over the last several months I’ve come to think about “the road most traveled”. For me, it’s the course I take several time per week in Henry Cowell State Park. I’m pretty regulated in my morning walks. Wanting to make sure that I get home in time to do my job, I allow myself a half hour of walking. Fifteen minutes into the park, then turn around and walk the 15 minutes back to my van. I generally take the same route, not venturing on to new paths. Some may find this too structured and way too boring to do day after day. However, I’ve discovered that as I have walked the same path I have had new experiences almost every day. Because you see, it’s a living path.

From the beginning I was struck by the early morning sunlight filtering through the leaves that create a canopy over the bridge as I enter the park. I enjoyed the vista of meadow, the serenity of the redwood grove. But the more I walked the more I began to notice the nuances along the way. Soon I became aware of the bushes where I could count on seeing quail. I had walked by those bushes numerous times and had never noticed. Now I make an effort to cross to the other side of the road so as not to disturb the skittish birds. I learned where to look if I hoped to see deer. I now know where I can almost always see blue jays. I recognize different sounds – I know the difference between the sound of a squirrel skittering in the bushes and a bird scratching for seed. I know where the ducks like to play in the spring and I know their flight pattern in the fall. I’m aware of possible dangerous places – places that flood after a rain, places where coyotes travel.

The seasons bring change to the same path. Bare trees in the winter break out in brilliant yellow-green in the spring. The leaves grow and darken in the summer, providing shade. Then when the rest of the world is turning brown in the fall they burst with yellow light as they put on their autumn dress. It’s the same path, but always different.

The weather brings change to the same path. Dew make grass gleam in the morning sun, so much so that it causes one to squint. Fog acts like a theatrical scrim curtain, cutting off the view of the background so that I find myself seeing a specific tree or hill that I had never noticed before. A breeze in the summer grass causes a rippling effect across the meadow. Rain causes grass and branches to bow down. It’s the same path, but always different.

Time brings change to the path. Most days I am at Henry Cowell at the same time. I see familiar faces along the way. I see the animals where I usually see them. But if I go later in the day, it seems that everything has changed. Unfamiliar people pass me. The deer don’t show up. I see a snake lying on the road enjoying the warm sunshine. It’s the same path, but always different.

Walking partners bring change to the path. I generally walk by myself but occasionally I’m joined by a friend or family member. We get engrossed in conversation and I don’t see much of the landscape. But then something catches their eye – a bird, a flower, a mushroom and I see something that I had never noticed before. It’s the same path, but always different.

All this caused me to think about God’s Word, how it, too, is living. When I seldom read it, it is like a chore or exercise. I just think about getting through the passage, putting my time in, and closing the book. But when I read it regularly I discover the nuances that God’s living Word has for me. I know where to look to find God’s peace. I know the passages that give me wisdom for my marriage, how to raise my kids, how to get along with those around me. The things that were once hidden are now very familiar. Yet no matter how familiar, they are new every morning because like nature, God’s Word is living. Although His Word does not change, what I see changes – sometimes due to life’s circumstances, sometimes due to new understanding, sometimes because the enlightenment a partner on the path brings. It’s the same path, but always different.

There is something to be said about the road most traveled.

IT RAINED TODAY AND I WENT WALKING

It rained today and I went walking. This comes as a surprise to me when I think that less than a year ago I would use any excuse to avoid exercising. I don’t have time. There are other things that are more important. What if I trip and fall (a legitimate concern of one who was known to trip often in high school – although that was a long time ago)? I don’t have the right clothes. What if I encounter a predator? It’s too cold. What if I got lost (a concern again that had some merit)? There were plenty of excuses. But that’s what they were – just excuses.

I knew exercising would be good for me but it wasn’t part of my routine, my life style. But I decided to make a stab at it. I decided that maybe I could squeeze in one or two walks per week, but just for a half hour each time, because I was a busy person. After dropping my kids off at school, I dutifully parked my car near the entrance of Henry Cowell State Park. I would walk 15 minutes into the state park and walk 15 minutes out. I was armed with my cell phone – just in case I tripped, got lost, or encountered the feared predator. I didn’t have any special walking clothes or shoes, like I was sure everyone else would have, but it was early, maybe no one would see me. Hopefully, no one would see me.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good hike. In fact, it is one of my favorite things to do with my husband, our family or some friends. But that was different – that’s an outing. This was exercise. This was by my self.

But I did it – sometimes once a week, sometimes twice. I stuck to the main road – straight in, straight out. No chance of getting lost. I did encounter others – runners with a great variety in their clothing style, other walkers with no particular set style – some alone, some with friends, some pushing strollers – all with a smile and many with a friendly greeting. This wasn’t so bad, I guess.

After several weeks I noticed that my 15 minutes in and 15 minutes out was taking me farther. I had to explore new paths, try new ways. I ventured on to the trails.

I then took the challenge of walking for a fund raiser. I had a couple of months to prepare for the 6k Wharf to Wharf. I added an extra day to my walking routine and occasionally went on longer walks with my husband. With his encouragement I bought better walking shoes.

By the time July rolled around I felt ready for the 6k walk. To my surprise I found that I really enjoyed the event but even more, I found I really enjoyed the walk.

This fall I’ve been walking four to five days a week, often putting 10 miles per week on my tennis shoes. I’ve gone farther, taken new trails, enjoyed new sights and have even jogged once or twice when I was sure no one would see me.

I’ve been dreading the rain because I thought it would put an end to the activity that I now enjoy so much. But today it rained and I went walking. I wore a hat to keep the rain off my glasses. As I gingerly tiptoed around puddles on the path I felt water oozing into my tennis shoes, I realized that it may be time to consider some hiking boots.

This journey of discovery caused me to think about people who know that reading the Bible or going to church would be “good for them” but it’s not in their routine, it’s not their lifestyle. There are fears – fears of not having the right clothes, of not doing things the right way, that someone may see them, that there may be predators – some legitimate fears, some just excuses.

But just like in my walking, the more you do it the easier it becomes. You start out easy and build up and soon it becomes part of your routine. You find you can go a little farther, a little deeper. You find you are among others that aren’t so very unlike you, and surprisingly, they even like you and welcome you to their path. There are events that can challenge you and stretch you. Sometimes things get messy or difficult but then there are people and tools to get you through. Just as a hat and boots may be needed for the rainy days, a concordance or commentary may be needed for a period of time.

Then there comes that day when you realize that this is no longer a dreaded exercise but a new life, a new life style, one that you wouldn’t give up – even if it rained.