Pathways are roads that provide an easy and directed route from one place to another. I have traveled many pathways in my life. Some were trails blazed through unpopulated mountainsides leading to a particularly good trout stream or hunting spot, others were the streets of the many different towns and cities I have lived in. Of the two, I prefer the first.
I find the concept of the ‘pathways of our lives’, to be most fascinating. I refer to these as our ‘lifeways’, as they are the trails that are blazed into our history, telling the story of where we have been physically, spiritually and socially. I also know that in my own life I have many times thought I had my future lifeway planned in the same manner I would plan a vacation trip.
There are many congruencies between pathways and lifeways. Both have a start and a finish, both must circumvent immovable objects to achieve their intended goal, and both are dynamic, or can change. It is the dynamic nature of a path that makes it either frightening, or a source of adventure, depending upon one’s outlook on life. How we travel the path, not the path itself proves the mettle of our character. It is upon these lifeways that the future history is written, for others and us.
There are many sources for the altering of a path. Nature sometimes does this violently, as the floodwaters or quaking earth changes the terrain. Other times the gentle but persistent wind transforms it. The resulting detour can sometimes be unnerving for the traveler when first they navigate it. New sights, and landmarks, which are not recognized, can cause stress and confusion, resulting in an unplanned change in direction.
Such is true with lifeways. Lifeways change not by nature, but by choices. At times, we make these choices. At other times, it will be the choices of others that alter our course. Sometimes the change is miniscule, sometimes massive. Sometimes the change is thrust upon us violently and against our will, and sometimes it takes place over an extended period, gently moving us. Either way, any deviation will affect our lives forever.
I believe it to be the course changes that bring us the greatest things in life, the greatest joy, and at times the greatest pain. My choices have skewed my course just enough to cause it to intersect with the lifeway of others. Sometimes at such a narrow angle as to cause us to travel a united pathway for great distances, others have merged for a lifetime, and yet others are more of an intersection, a short traversing of like paths that quickly diverge into different directions. No matter the duration, the impact upon our lives can be tremendous.
It is of great importance to remember our choices not only alter our lifeway, but the lifeway of every other person who shares in relationship with us. There are no ‘little’ choices in life. Some choices will alter lifeways for generations to come. We must remember to choose well. There are no ‘do-overs’ in life. We deal with what we get and what we get is not by chance. I rest in the knowledge that no matter what deviation of lifeway I face, no matter the opportunity or the pain, there is one who watches our lifeways and directs the degree of deviation to work things for our good, if we will let Him.
Enjoy the Java
Jim
Showing posts with label Pathways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pathways. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Pathways
How sweet are the memories of childhood. As children, growing up in North Little Rock, my sister and I spent countless hours playing at Burns park. Burns park is a huge city park nestled between the plush rolling foothills of the Ouachita mountains, the noisey busy streets of the city and the Arkansas River. It is known for it's many nature trails which are cut into the dense pine and oak forest. It was a great respite from the streets of the city.
We would play for hours on end in one particular section of the park. This was a section that had a mixture of very old, very tall pine trees, and some stands that had recently been planted. The trails in this pine forest were padded with pine needles that had fallen from their hosts, making them particularly quiet to walk on. This made the games of hide and seek, cowboys and Indians, and whatever else our fertile imaginations could conger, even more enjoyable. Many of these pathways would cross themselves, always lending an element of surprise to our games.
Pathways are important if one wishes to traverse the forest. They allow us to avoid the underbrush, and provide a more direct route than could be achieved by walking around the trees. Yes, pathways are important, not only through the forest, but in life.
The pathways of our life are very interesting. They are like the paths we followed as children. I always found the most pleasure in walking a pathway for the first time. It was the adventure of not knowing what might lay around the next curve, or where the path would eventually end up that made it so much fun. Forty years later, as an adult, I find the same childlike sense of adventure when I explore a new trail. I find this to be true in life also. Each day the path we travel is new, uncharted territory. Along it's way we find many new and exciting things, we meet new people and develop new relationships. At times the path becomes difficult or our progress is impeded by obstacles, but it is the adventure of the journey that makes life worth living. Knowing that the eventual end of this pathway is a home which is greater than we can imagine, adds to the anticipation of each days journey.
I will be blogging about pathways for the next several blogs, and the different aspects of the 'pathway' concept in our lives. I hope you find this a pleasant journey.
Enjoy the java
Jim
We would play for hours on end in one particular section of the park. This was a section that had a mixture of very old, very tall pine trees, and some stands that had recently been planted. The trails in this pine forest were padded with pine needles that had fallen from their hosts, making them particularly quiet to walk on. This made the games of hide and seek, cowboys and Indians, and whatever else our fertile imaginations could conger, even more enjoyable. Many of these pathways would cross themselves, always lending an element of surprise to our games.
Pathways are important if one wishes to traverse the forest. They allow us to avoid the underbrush, and provide a more direct route than could be achieved by walking around the trees. Yes, pathways are important, not only through the forest, but in life.
The pathways of our life are very interesting. They are like the paths we followed as children. I always found the most pleasure in walking a pathway for the first time. It was the adventure of not knowing what might lay around the next curve, or where the path would eventually end up that made it so much fun. Forty years later, as an adult, I find the same childlike sense of adventure when I explore a new trail. I find this to be true in life also. Each day the path we travel is new, uncharted territory. Along it's way we find many new and exciting things, we meet new people and develop new relationships. At times the path becomes difficult or our progress is impeded by obstacles, but it is the adventure of the journey that makes life worth living. Knowing that the eventual end of this pathway is a home which is greater than we can imagine, adds to the anticipation of each days journey.
I will be blogging about pathways for the next several blogs, and the different aspects of the 'pathway' concept in our lives. I hope you find this a pleasant journey.
Enjoy the java
Jim
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