Crossroads
We all have driven along the highways and side roads and and have caught a glimpse of a make-shift roadside memorials left in honour of someone who had lost their life in some type of traffic accident at that exact location. Usually, there will be some sort of cross, and perhaps some flowers bundled at the base of the cross left by a recent visitor. Lately, at least in my opinion, I have witnessed more and more of these memorials on more and more roads that I have traveled. What a sad sight to be seen.
Was it truly an "accident," or was it preventable? So many times we categorized these types of tragedy into an accident, but if you investigate further ... you'll find that it may have been prevented. Someone drank too much, took their eyes off the road, talking on the phone and not paying full attention, texting, arguing with a passenger, or just simply spacing out and not staying alert. These are the true tragedies because they could've been prevented. The pain and loss for the friends and family left behind by those who died, may have been diverted just by realizing the attention required at all times that is necessary for operating a motor vehicle.
How many times do we stray from where we should place our focus. Not just on the road, but at work, at home, with our children, and our own health and well-being. We must learn to recognize the distractions that take away our attention from where it should be, and instead diverts it to where it should not be. When we mind our mind, we learn that we have more control over situations presented to us that we are aware of. We wake from our slumber. We become more conscious of dangerous situations and respond more quickly when these situations present themselves to us.
How many crosses and flower displays would we find at each moment in time when we have driven off our spiritual and emotional path? How many times do we have to hit the wall of despair to learn the lessons that have presented themselves to us? We tend to think "oh, that could never happen to me" when in fact, it most certainly can. Life is a journey of ups and downs, and we have to ride those waves. We have to learn to be good when things are not good, and be good when things are good. You are the Driver in your body ... the Soul. Be more careful with your vehicle and pay more attention to all that can affect you and others. The more awake, alert, and aware you are ... the less "accidents" you'll be involved in.
Just a thought ...
~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.
