It’s been a while since I’ve written here! I was away on sabbatical for four months, and have been meaning to write a new blog post since I came back in early May, but there have been others things to pay attention to. And here we are, in mid-summer!
Looking at this picture makes me strangely happy. I took it in late March, as I was heading out on a pilgrimage to Utah, a trip which included three days driving out and three days driving back, and two weeks of walking, fly fishing, some camping and lots of solitude. And I pretty much loved it all.
There’s something about the promise of the open road that calls to me. I love being at home, and I am so grateful to have a home, a place that we gotten to know over the years, and where we raised our children. And still, there’s something about heading out toward the horizon, the invitation to explore new country, that is ever compelling to me. The picture above is, for me, a symbol of the freedom a road trip offers.
This summer, after over a year of necessary confinement and limitation, many of us are venturing out. There are still risks, and it’s important to be careful, but I’m so grateful for the freedom that being vaccinated offers. I’m loving seeing the pictures people are sharing of family gatherings and time spent in beloved places, and I hope you will be able to find time and space this summer to touch what you are longing for, and what feeds your soul.
One of the gifts of getting away from home is that travel broadens your perspective. I love the regional differences in our country—the different accents, the local food, the varied landscapes and architecture. When traveling alone, I’m more likely to get into a conversation with a stranger, along a trout stream or at a gas pump. And these encounters often bring unexpected blessings. And there’s something about being in a new place that sharpens your attention—you notice things, because you’re looking more carefully.
This spring I happened to be crossing central Nebraska at the same time the sandhill crane migration was passing through that area. Thousands of those birds were on the move, and so I got up early one chilly morning and stood at the edge of a field of corn stubble to watch and listen as they flew overhead.
One thing I noticed on the road is that more people tend to drive in the left-hand lanes of multi-lane highways. Even though most highways have signs that say “Keep Right Except to Pass,” or “Slower Traffic Keep Right,” it seems that more and more people think this doesn’t apply to them. In our hurry-up culture, maybe most folks think they are moving faster than average, so they tend to drive in the fast lanes.
Don’t get me wrong—I spend my share of time over there too! I just spent enough time on highways during my sabbatical that I noticed this: things flow better when drivers pay attention to those signs, and know what lane they belong in! When we pay attention to those around us, and to the rules and guidelines that help shape our common life, it goes better for everyone.
If you’re traveling this summer, may your journeys be safe and joyful. Blessings, friends, on your going out, and on your coming back!