Journeying with eyes open…

In a particular story* an elderly lady develops a friendship with a sixteen year old young man.  Some advice from her to him:

“Travel is a search for self, trust me.  And sometimes just to search is enough.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course.  Wander around long enough with your eyes open and soon enough you will find things.  Great journeys are never about the destination.”

In our Western culture we have become very adept in making plans and setting goals, or “destinations.”  We readily journey from one destination to another.  Some journeys are epic.  Others are not.  At times we decide the destination.  Other times our destination is decided for us.

Of course, we each share the same ultimate destination – end of life.  Yet if we acknowledge Dulcie’s advice, we might agree that great journeys are never about the destination.  Her emphasis is on the ‘journey’.  Dulcie raises some poignant questions.  Are we searching for self on our journey?  Do we have our eyes open?

Most religious philosophies have their eyes fixed upon some kind of heaven as the destination.  Such a pity if God himself is eager to be revealed today through unexpected and unimaginable encounters: in his creation, with other peoples’ stories, or even in the spiritual realm.

Let’s open our eyes to the wonderful, relish the search for self, and treasure the journey.

*The Offing; Benjamin Myers.