A River’s Journey

Again I find myself peering out of a window from some sort of transportation and asking myself life’s unanswered questions…I study and observe nature in its purest untouched form and draw some kind of perspective, find meaning and ultimately answer some of these questions by drawing them from God’s beautiful work.

This time I’m lost in the Bolivian landscape from a plane soaring over the breathtaking and majestic scenery below. We flew over an ice capped mountain that had to be toppling 20 thousand feet and it was a mere 6 minutes from the runway. We fly just along side of it and as high as what seemed to me a measly 1000 feet above. It was the first time I’ve ever experienced such a majestic, untouched presence from so very close, I could tell where the snow was breaking away…preparing to separate itself from the rest of the dense white blanket and obliterate everything in its path down the side of the mountain. It was such a vivid and amazing sight…I believe the word “awesome” was created for such grandeur scenes as these.

We eventually passed the massive field of mountains rising and falling, jutting and protruding from the earth’s grasp. It reminded me of very rough seas in which the waves would jettison out with aggressive and violent intentions. All the waves taking their turn and the valley of water between left to the depths below as the masses peaked well above the sea level…and then someone stopped time…frozen in their stances and holding their position for eternity. The mountains truly mimic this oceanic scene and the beauty is inspiring. As we continued our journey the mountains gently and gradually softened…the pointy tops rounded off and the peaks tried to surpass the the previous elevations without success. Eventually these mountains leveled out with the terrain and all that was left were the rivers and streams. I closely observed these watery roads, I studied them for awhile and at times confused them with a man made path but with a very distinct difference…they did not follow the path of the shortest distance. A road created by man would never snake in and out with huge curves which almost intersected at times…these rivers would swerve almost drunkenly through the earth…creating and choosing their destination by choice.

This is what caught my attention. These streams and rivers were not in a hurry as they snaked their way through the rocky and earthly terrain, it wasn’t about the destination, it was about the journey. They didn’t choose the straightest and fastest route…they choose the easiest one. The route with as little difficulty as possible…this was not a race to the finish line, it was about the the voyage unfolding one curve at a time…choosing the easiest path and not making things…not making life…more difficult, more stressful and more complicated than it needs to be. I am not going to get all hippy/guru now and say “Be the River”, but I know personally that I have been known to make life more difficult on myself by choosing a more complicated and difficult path. My decisions might have been persuaded by many variables including fear, anxiety, stress and uncertainty but I didn’t follow my heart…I didn’t follow my gut. I should have listened to my inner compass which I believe is God’s guidance when making these decisions. Jessica and I always prayed for guidance and I continue to do this each and every day. We prayed for clear and definitive signs from our Lord for everything…especially our most important decisions. I have learned from Jessica and through the last very difficult years to listen to my heart and make decisions with the help of my inner compass. I will also incorporate what God’s creation has taught me from this trip…that things seem simpler and less complicated in nature…that’s why so many of us get so much from our time outdoors. We find…ourselves, peace and a heightened spirituality when we place ourselves within nature’s most beautiful and tranquil settings. I will try and remember this next time I face some important decisions…hopefully next time I will choose the easier path, the right path, the wise path…