But it doesn’t matter, because the path is there. When it gets tough, some people will form a
bit of a bridge over difficult areas. It
might not look like much and it might be missing a few boards, but it’s a
sturdy bridge and has carried many people back and forth safely. Sometimes it’s more primitive, such as a
large log being set across a swampy area.
Either way, you’re grateful that someone had the foresight to place
these bridges and help others on the path.
 |
| A thoughtful bridge. |
You’ll never see this on newer city streets and town
roads. Those are different kinds of
paths. Those are hard and straight and
wide and paved. Anything that may have
been in the way of a path like that has long since been removed because the
path is the only thing that matters to the builders. Their intention is to take you expediently
from one area to another as quickly as possible, usually from one shopping area
to another so you can more easily hand your money over. It’s very thoughtful of them.
Thoughtful, indeed.
And how about the secret path in the woods? Is that a thoughtful path? I tell you, there is no path made with more
thought than that small meandering path in the woods. Like the human mind that created it, it
wanders this way and that and then focuses more and heads in the proper
direction. Large trees and boulders are
gone around, not through, and there are areas of beauty that catch the eye and
draw the path to them. You can almost
see the path forming in the mind of the original path makers. You can feel their thoughts as you walk the
path, and know you probably would have chosen the same way.
Like a labyrinth, the path through the woods is
soothing. It gets you to where you’re
going but in a gentle and thoughtful way.
There’s no rushing, and you can stop along the way at any point. There are things that warn you of difficulty,
such as a crudely constructed bridge, or an area of beauty where the path
magically widens on its own. There are
areas where it is only one foot wide and the brush rubs against your sides as
you walk through it, but if you stay on the path, you will get to a better area
and ultimately to where you are going.
If you are a city dweller, don’t despair because you can
still follow the old paths. Go to your
local library and find an old map of the city.
Look at the old streets and compare them to a modern map. Some might be gone, but you’ll find that many
are still there. Map out a route and
walk the path. Even though it’s paved
and is not through a shady woods, it’s still an old path set down by people who
selected landmarks and not shopping areas to help you on your way, and because
of that it will be a thought-full path.
You’ll notice the land marks: An
old church steeple, a natural stone wall, the top of a hill. You’ll see that they all line up. There’s a secret network of paths in every
city because they were all built by someone walking and thinking.
I find that my thoughts settle down and become more
intentional when I’m on a path through the woods. There’s no element of rushing or
hurrying. There’s nothing loud or
blaring and no flashing lights. It’s
just a thoughtful, winding, twisting path that gets me to where I’m going in
more ways than one. Like those who came
before me, if I find a large tree branch in the middle of the path, I’ll move
it. I’ll be helpful and make things
easier for whoever comes after me. And
in this way, it becomes my path
because I’ve contributed to it, although it always seems to give more than it
is given.
