“Wrapped up in our thoughts, we can’t hear love
or beauty’s song.” - Marty Ruben
"Distractions
and detours dig our grave." - Kishore Bansal
Every day life
affords us opportunities to enjoy great beauty.
But they are fleeting and so easy to miss.
Heading back to South Carolina from the New England leg of my project, I wanted to spend a
bit of time with family in Ohio. I left
Cape Cod and was quickly on the turnpike that would carry me through Massachusetts and upstate New York. Being October, the foliage was on
full display and I was relieved that I didn’t feel I had to stop and
take photographs for an article. For once I could just relax and enjoy the
natural beauty. Colorful hills rimming green valleys revealed how the
leaves changed more quickly at altitude. A brilliant red maple had vines with
yellow leaves interspersed, looking more beautiful than any Christmas tree I have ever seen. New England is world renowned for the brilliance
of its fall foliage.
I passed through
a toll booth. Another few miles was
another toll booth. A half an hour and
another toll booth. Then I had to get
gas. I pulled in and the gas was $2.39 a
gallon on the turnpike – it had been $1.99 everywhere else. Another toll booth. And the roads were not in nearly as good of shape as they were in places that had no tolls. Next I
am thinking about the companies that choose to take financial advantage of a “captive
audience.” I am thinking about how the
interstate highway system was designed to make this country great – not line the
pockets of greedy politicians and their cohorts. The foliage hadn’t changed – my plans hadn’t changed
– and yet here I am in a confrontational mood while driving through one of the
most beautiful spots on earth. In the span of an hour I went from feeling amazement and deep gratitude to anger.
It took me about
fifteen minutes to catch myself. Then I
had to laugh. I left on this journey
two years ago with a tank of gas and $190.
God has shown up at every turn – countless times I have been down to my last couple
of dollars and have chosen to put it in an offering basket, bought a homeless
person a sandwich or put it in a Ronald McDonald house collection basket. Long ago I made the decision that I no longer place
my trust in money – I trust God. And God
shows up every time, in ways that never cease to amaze me. If God wanted me to visit family on my way
back to the Carolinas, it doesn’t matter what it cost. It would have been provided – and indeed I
had the monies I needed for the trip. So
why do I get upset? Why do I even begin
to care about something so trivial when my needs are always met?
We are all
capable of “righteous indignation,” and we are all capable of using it as a
blunt instrument to bludgeon others with if we have the opportunity.
But who does the club strike first?
And last? And every time in
between? It is me that suffers most. And here I was – for the first and perhaps
only time in my life passing through the most beautiful spot on the planet this
time of year blinded by ingratitude. I
am glad I have matured enough to catch it quickly and was able to enjoy the rest of the scenery.
Today, may I be present.
Click Here to contribute a few dollars to this effort. You can email me at captureamerica1@gmail.com
Enjoy today!!
David
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