When you go on a journey accross the country, do you take the interstate or the highway?
Interstates have limited access, there are minimum speed limits, there are rest areas every so many miles, many national chains are ready to serve you with food and gas, and the roadway is generally well maintained. The Results: the disruptions have been minimized, the comfort of travel is elevated, and it is fairly easy to determine your time of arrival (if this is difficult just visit Mapquest - they'll tell you).
Highways, on the other hand, go through small towns, the options for food and gas are limited to mom and pop diners with a gas pump out back, the restrooms are only located in businesses with signs asking that be used only by patrons, farm vehicles going 15 mph have equal rights to the roadway, and the roads are at the bottom of the state's list for improvement: unless they are on the way to a major tourist trap.
Interstates are a symbol of who we have become in America: Comfort and Convenience. We like to plan our days, our lives, our trips, and even our diversions. No longer do we stop into the mom and pop diner. No longer do we take the detour to see the giant ball of string. We want to get off the freeway only to use the restroom and get right back on. We are about the destination instead of the journey.
Success is determined by the goal, and the end now justifies the means. Distractions are no longer embraced. Comfort has become a virtue. Relationships that slow us down are now obstacles that need to be overcomed.
Maybe as a spiritual discipline we should start driving the highways again; just to reprioritize our lives. Maybe we would rediscover the wonder of our children as we embrace the distractions they usher into our lives. Maybe we would begin to understand the bigger issues of life and spirituality in the light of the journey and thus enjoy the journey.
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Thoughts, some profound, and others that are not-so-deep. Some are responses from the pastor of a church community in downtown Colorado Springs to questions texted to him during the weekly service.
1 comment:
Consider the following from the World's Largest Ball of Twine Website: "The ball of twine is located in "Downtown" Cawker City right along Wisconsin Street (Highway 24) on the south side of the highway. It is half a block west of Lake Drive, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding it (After all, this is a small town and a big ball of twine)." The detour we would have to take would be minimal!! Once you are on the highway, highway 24 in this case (and otherwise known as Wisconsin Street in Cawker City), you are already in the mix! If even considering seeing the world's largest ball of string as you zip by on I-70 is insane, maybe being on I-70 is insane. Balls of string aren't people, and people aren't balls of string. What does that brilliant observation do to the analogy? It makes it stronger! I think one term you mentioned was, "the wonder of our children" to get us off the interstate. Now, where's my twine, I'll be right back. Thank you, Kurt!
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