My Path

My Path

I love to follow a path.  The town where I grew up, Bellingham, is recognized for having a great many paths winding about within the city limits.  There are paths for walkers and joggers, paths for bicycles, paths for motorcycles, even paths for horses.  My favorite path in Bellingham encircles the small lake where I used to swim as a child.  It is a nice wide path, providing plenty of room for faster movers to pass as well as providing a sense of safety.  There are places along the way that take you quite close to the shoreline. On sunny days the glimmer of light across the surface of the water is divine. You may even catch a glimpse of a jumping fish or a bird in flight, swooping for the bugs that hover over the water.  Other sections of the path wind through a deeply wooded forest of Douglas fir, maple, and other various trees.  The shade is a welcome coolant during the summer months and during a rain storm, the thick branches overhead serve as a protective shelter.  Another thing I really enjoy about this path is that it has a few hills that provide variety, challenge and a sense of accomplishment on my journey. 

Sometimes there are obstacles or features that make a path less desirable to me.  We have a beautiful aspen grove that borders our driveway.  The beauty of the quaking leaves catches my eye, especially on a hot August afternoon.  There is a small creek that meanders through the trees and the tempting song of the water across the rocks calls to me.  The underbrush is thick and in many spots you would have to be a rabbit to make progress unscathed.   One year, my dear husband cleared a narrow path for me just so I could wander out and enjoy the cool shade of the grove.  Unfortunately, the local bear population hears the same tune. They love to forge their way through and lie down in the shallow water and sleep away the afternoon.  Not an obstacle I wish to contend with, so that path is now overgrown and untraveled.

Each of us has to choose our own path. Yes, I am adding a philosophical twist to this discussion.   Looking back, I have to acknowledge that I did not follow the exact path my parents dreamed for me.  I know their deepest and strongest hopes and prayers were for my sister and me to be happy and healthy; and a college education would not hurt.  I am confident that there were times when they saw obstacles in my path that I did not or would not acknowledge.  Some of those obstacles provided me with pain and lessons learned the hard way.  Others proved not to be obstacles at all, and I was able to keep cruising along without a struggle.

 As a parent, I now face learning to let my children choose their own path.  In the early years it is our responsibility to teach our children how to walk and go out into the world. We are careful to steer them clear of obstacles and point them in the right direction.  As they get older the obstacles change, instead of a sharp edged table or the business end of a grumpy cat, there are skipped classes, speeding cars, drugs, and heartbreaking loves.  We do all we can to teach the basics; be kind, respect others, eat your vegetables, etc.  There comes a time when we have to let go and trust that they will find their own path. It is a personal journey.  “Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119.105 NRSV) Note the “my” as opposed to “the” or “mom’s” path?  Hear my prayers, Oh Lord.