We Choose the Roads that Lead Us to the Lessons We Must Learn…*

I wasn’t on the trail more than a moment, when I knew today’s adventure would offer the gift of a life lesson. Immediately, the forest promised options aplenty.

Well-worn paths divided and divided again, as I was reminded of the many, many life choices we come face to face with every day. 

Even as we focused on following the color-coded trail… an awareness superseded our efforts as we came to realize how very many turns would ultimately still bring us to our destination.

There was not one right way or a wrong way… for us. What the twists and turns were showing me, was only that each offered a different set of challenges.

Years ago, I heard a song. The title evades me, but one line has remained a life message for over 40 years.

“We choose the roads that lead us to the lessons we must learn” *

Today’s trek was just that. An amazing hike through a wooded, ‘graced’ land… which offered reminders at every turn.

The creek was shallow, mostly. But occasional deep pools offered coolness, where still waters tucked themselves safely in pockets of shade.

Fallen trees were few, while others showed their tenacity, as a closer look revealed how life hung in the wind, even as gravity was defied.

Wild life, and wild flower blessed the scene, reminding me to pause and take in the moment more often than not…

Stone crossings, built by humans, offered an assurance that there was a way to get upstream without being submerged  and cairns served as simple reminders that we are all on this journey together.

I imagine we will have to return a dozen times, to follow every path that got us to today’s final destination. In fact, ours was a ‘loop trail’ but we did not choose that route today!

I was reminded that the paths at Hunters Creek, like life, are many. And although we may take a different route, we can all enjoy the GIFT of the journey, and arrive, nourished by the lessons we were meant to learn…

*Lyrics from song written by Kathleen Martin Flanning