April 5, 2005|
A Twisting Path
There Are No Straight Lines In Nature Or In Life
If you trek into the wilderness and look around with a careful gaze, you'll see that the trees, flowers, and even the rocks have a tendency to flow. There is the curve of the branch that leads to the blossom, the smooth dip in a rock formation, the gnarled knot in a tree trunk, and the forking of shoots. As nature is overflowing with curves, corners, knots, and unexpected directions, so are our lives filled with unpredictable twists and turns. While you may find yourself briefly on a straight path, there is sure to be a sudden change in route up ahead. The journey of life doesn't necessarily always bring you closer to your goals. In fact, sometimes you may find yourself backtracking or meandering off in a wholly new direction. Because there is no way to predict the outcome of your journey (just as there is no way to predict the way a new bud will form), simply living is in itself the path to wisdom.
Like a nature trail, this path can lead to unexpected destinations. You may be faced with direct questions like who am I and what is of value to me, or you may find yourself acquiring the answer to these questions through everyday experiences. The path to wisdom is only blocked when one expects it to be a straight line. It is important to remember that plans and predictions are not rigid and, as your world grows in complexity, are likely to change. It is therefore necessary to be open to a multitude of different paths. Obstacles, weariness, curiosity, or circumstance may cause you to alter your direction abruptly. There may be forks in your path, where you will need to make significant decisions based on the counsel of your inner voice.
There are both long and short roads that are sometimes curved and sometimes straight. Enjoy and learn from the adventure. Often, when we look at nature, the beauty is in the unexpected. No two plants or minerals are exactly the same and even the smallest plants curve gracefully. The curving path is often the most interesting one. The lesson we can take from that is to avoid becoming attached to what "needs" to happen and to remain flexible as we continue on our journeys. If you are determined to achieve certain goals, you will achieve them, no matter how many twists and turns you must travel to do so.
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