Lau Tsu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Well, I am about to take a step! This Sunday I will fly to Las Vegas (never been there before, didn’t really want to go, won’t stay but overnight!), then I’ll bus up early the next morning to St. George, UT, (purportedly a great little town), where I’ll be picked up by my son and his family from Austria. I’ll be joining them for a road trip which will include the Grand Canyon, (also a place I’ve never been but have really wanted to go!), Bryce Canyon, Arches, and then on up to Yellowstone.
While these places are certainly some destination destinations, what I really want to keep in mind is that the journey itself IS the destination. Whatever the weather, our moods, the traffic, the scenery, the grandeur, the irritations…. it is all grist for the consciousness/awareness mill, all part of the whole, all an opportunity for presence and gratitude. My travelling companions will be my grandson, Nick, 6, and granddaughter, Lilly, 4. What a pleasure and gift to be able to share the journey and see the wonders of the world through their eyes!
One of the essays in BECOMING is called What a Trip! (pg 71). In that essay we investigate the metaphor of Life as a Journey. Reflection questions can aid and illuminate the exploration. What if you consider your life to be a journey. What have been some of the ‘destinations’ you have set out for? How do you experience the journey when you don’t reach the desired ‘destination’ ? What has been your attitude toward real or metaphorical potholes or headwinds? In what ways do you resist, and how do you embrace your life journey? What makes the difference?
I’d be please to hear about YOUR experience!
Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity. Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume.