A Path Through

There is no one linear path through life, but there are ties that bind. There is no one out there writing the rule book for a life well lived, but for many of us there are common themes. These days it seems so many of us are in search of something simple and pure, easy yet strenuous. A life of meaning and a life of purpose. For so many of us the craving for video games and shiny lights doesn’t exist. Instead we go in search of quiet moments, open fields, the cliched wide open spaces, yes read in the tune of the Dixie Chicks.

In a world filled with absolute nonsense and racket it seems inescapable to get away from the round-the-clock news and the doom and gloom, so I won’t mention it here. Instead I will say, put down the phone, step away from the bright blue lights, and return to life in community.

We once lived within our communities, yet for the past couple of decades we’ve been led to believe that the digital world is the greatest form of community, but that isn’t true. The human was meant to live in community, not in the dark of isolated rooms only illuminated by tiny screens.

We need a revival of community, not communities of political or religious silos, but instead communities that gather around tables, communities that life life together, like in the olden days. I don’t know the answer to how we get there, but I do know the journey starts with a single step. Somewhere we have to decide that we would rather visit with neighbors than doom scroll, we would rather pull out the supper-ware, welcome people to our porches, attend the functions, care about those around us.

Somewhere along the way we have forgotten the joys of seeing folks, folks in real life, not reading their Facebook updates. Today may not be the day to dive fully in, but hey, maybe it is. Today, even for just a moment put the phone down, go outside, see a friend, wave, serve a glass of iced tea, you are not alone.