Lost

"All who wander are not lost."

I heard a quote the other day that went something like this: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will do."

I have been lost more than my fair share while trying to get from point A to point B or while exploring some remote region of this country or that one. Isn't it funny how when you are trying to get somewhere, getting lost can cause a real sense of panic and frustrustion since we know we are not where we are supposed to be? I admit I am not the best in those moments I am lost...

On the other hand, there have been those times when I've been "lost" and didn't seem to mind it at all, like those lazy drives in the plains of America or while exploring the backroads of Donegal in Ireland where, if there are any road signs at all, they are most certainly pointing you in the wrong direction. Getting lost, in these occasions, becomes a chance to see the unexpected. Sometimes, it's a nice little diversion that offers a whole different perspective on the place you find yourself in.

For some people, being lost is the destination of choice. With no place in particular to go, some folks seem content to meander through life while enjoying chance encounters with people and place. I can understand the curiosity of the wanderer, those who seem to be seeking after what may be more ethereal than many would prefer. Many have wandered from well-worn paths to seek spiritual renewal or vision. Even Jesus escaped the common to find vision and clarity for his eventual return to the people he was called to.

Clearly, all who wander are not lost.

There is a difference between being lost due to one's own idiocy (which usually follows a period of wandering through the proverbial desert) and taking the less-traveled road to be refreshed, renewed, and even surprised. Many of the highlights of my life have come from the second type of journey; some of the worst moments have come from the first.

There is a Voice that leads us along the Journey. Some, having ignored the whispers have found themselves in the stinky belly of a big fish (or something like that). Others have enjoyed the companionship of the Voice and have appreciated the unique places that listening (and obeying) has taken them. I, for one, have enjoyed the diversion that these last couple years have brought and the perspective such a journey has offered.

I hear someone calling my name. Gotta go...