Out on the Open Road
by Liz Jansen
Imagine yourself riding a motorcycle out on the open road. It could be a day trip or you might be in the middle of a cross-country adventure. You envision your destination, set out, and are surrounded by spectacular scenery. You’re riding down the road, completely immersed in the sensory experience. The feeling is pure bliss.
At some point you realize you don’t know where you are, but that doesn’t really matter. You’re on an adventure and your motorcycle has taken you on an extraordinary side trip where you experience sights that take your breath away, or inspire you with new confidence—experiences you would have missed had you stayed on the main road.
You can’t see where the road is leading but you know it’s in the general direction of your destination. Suddenly, a big Road Construction sign appears, partially blocking the road and breaking you out of your reverie. Suddenly fear is riding pillion, chattering incessantly about what awaits if you continue.
It can become an impasse or you can take a detour into unknown territory, which takes you on a road you’ve never been on.
You’d never have chosen this path because it looks too uncertain and too difficult. Calling on your skills, taking some deep breaths, and focusing your eyes on where you’re going, you gingerly move forward, and to your surprise, make it through the rough stuff. You gain new insights into the depth of your strength. It awakens confidence you wouldn’t have discovered on the main road. That joyful feeling returns.
In fact, this detour turns out to be quite scenic. As you round the corner, you see the exact spot you’d like to stop at for a while. You’ve reached your destination – even if it wasn’t the one you planned.
The same thing happens on our soul’s journey through life. We’re constantly faced with choices, often arising from events that are beyond our control. But we have to respond. Whether we get bogged down in the mire or listen to our heart and open ourselves to new experiences is up to us.
The open road awaits.
Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.