Heading out...

When I was studying theology, I spent 4 months at the school and 4 months back home, then 2 months at school and 2 months at home. There was a lot of driving involved and I had a lot of time to think as I watched the scenery flow by, driving from prairies to mountains and back again. An image came to me once, which has stuck with me ever since.

Union with the Divine is like a mountain, and we're headed for the top. There are many paths up this mountain, many different ways of reaching the top. The Church is one of those ways, and it is following a road up the mountain. The faithful are riding on this wagon called "The Church" being led by the hierarchy and the clergy. It's a slow, methodical trip and it is travelling a very well worn pathway. Stay on that wagon and you'll probably get there. But not everybody is welcome on that wagon... and people keep getting kicked off and left behind. Some people leave and find another road with another wagon. Other people just head off on their own, heading off into the lush forest, following a path that only they can see. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes in groups, sometimes on their own.

No matter what route you take, eventually every one gets there... nobody ever gets left behind... ever. And part of the adventure is in the journey itself, not just in arriving at the destination. Part of the adventure is in discovering what lies within the forest. Sure, there's a well-trodden road over there... but what sights are they missing as they stick to the tried and true?

For me, I really connect with the adventurer and the explorer. I connect with the idea of heading out and seeing what there is to see... of discovering what there is to discover. For the last 3 years, after I got off the wagon, I've been hanging around that well trodden path, waiting to see if the church would take a new path... but no... And so now, I want to head out and discover something else. I want to tread a path that is not well trodden. I want to uncover new things.

I take a backpack of supplies with me. I have a compass - love, mercy and compassion. I have the scriptures and all that they can bring. I have the Spirit. With those... I think I'm pretty well set. Sure I might take a wrong turn, or have to make a detour occassionally... but that's part of the adventure. I'm going for it.