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The ‘Dangerous’ Road

by the Ven. Mimsy Jones

 

Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
    “The Tables Turned” by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

 

Near the house where I stay in Maine, there is a tree-lined dirt road that winds up, down, and around the bay below.  The road is barely wide enough for two oncoming cars to scoot past each other.  It is almost a mile long, and there are signs posted at either end of the road:

Scenic Byway

SLOW

Pedestrians  Dogs  Bikes

When my grandchildren were very young, we loved to drive them around the curves (“Watch out, children!  A car could come around the corner!”) and up and down the steep hills (“I must go very slowly; you never know what’s coming up this hill!”) They would squeal in delight and couldn’t wait for the next time we drove on what they eventually named ‘The Dangerous Road’.

 

This morning, I walked The Dangerous Road, not so much for exercise (although the hills do provide a good cardio boost), but for the unique sense of restoration and calm that walking this road provides for me.

 

Entering the road is like entering a cathedral.  The leaves of towering trees – spruce, birch, white pine, oak – form an archway; sunlight filters through the high branches beckoning me forward.  The ‘congregation’ of walkers, dogs (leashed), and occasional drivers seem to sense that speed has no place on this part of the earth.

 

The Dangerous Road was carved by a masterful hand.  On one side an old forest rises sharply; on the other side, also forested, there are occasional peaks of Penobscot Bay, boats bobbing on their moorings far below.

 

I have walked this road for so many years that the ancient trees have become familiar landmarks.  I’ve named one particularly sturdy oak ‘the stretching tree,’ because it is an ideal support for a good stretch after ascending one of the more challenging hills.

 

Today, with this blog in mind, I stopped along the way to take pictures and was surprised to hear a woman’s voice, “Perfect place to take a picture, isn’t it?”  She stopped and said, “I walk this road every chance I get. It helps me get through the day.”

 

We began to talk.  Actually, she did most of the talking.  She lives alone, works at a nearby recovery center, and loves animals, especially cats.  She showed me a picture of the adorable kitten she is adopting.  We parted and continued on our different ways.

 

I thought about how much I will miss my walks on that road when I go home, how hot and humdrum my daily walks in Memphis are by comparison, how rare and precious that Dangerous Road is…and suddenly I realized what the real danger of that road is: it is idealizing specific places, hanging on to them for dear life, as Peter did on the mountain after Jesus’ transfiguration.

 

That’s what I’m trying to do with this lovely dirt road; nail it down. Decide it’s perfect, that nothing else can possibly compare.  I almost laughed out loud writing this when the ultimate irony dawned on me: I live on Walnut Grove Road, for heaven’s sake.  Our back yard is carved out of a forest; trees form a canopy of protective shade; azaleas and hydrangeas thrive; it is a good and healthy place to live.

 

‘Come into the light of things,’ Wordsworth writes.  Good words to remember, wherever we are.


9 thoughts on “The ‘Dangerous’ Road”

  1. I followed your train of thought to the end.
    My mind was right there with your beautiful description, and I was wishing to be on that ‘dangerous’ road.
    You are right, however, there is beauty everywhere.
    It reminded me of Marina Wiederkehr’s book, “A Tree Full of Angels”.
    Thank you for this meaningful meditation!

  2. I confess my “faith” has largely been driven by my awe of nature. The constellations, the northern lights, a clear full- moon, vast oceans, deep gorges and craggily peaks!! Your “cathedral” touched that nerve of faith. What God has given us is worth “a stretch” now and then!
    Grinch

  3. Another wise and beautiful reflection, Mimsy. I think the poets call the turn you made a few sentences from the end a “volta.” I sure wish you’d posted a “Slow: Volta Ahead” sign. I didn’t see it coming and got creamed!

    Can’t wait to have you back with us here in the heat and humdrumnity!

  4. Mimsy on a lighter note, I recommend you “stretch “ your stay in Maine on that beautiful road of cool green to avoid the extreme heat and humidity of Walnut Grove Road.

  5. Thanks for reminding me, dear Mimsy, of one of the greatest lessons of my life, one that I seem to constantly need reminding of. As one brought up in the Jewish faith who visited Israel (and Jerusalem) several times in my first two decades, I learned early how dangerous the primacy of any place can be. If only I could remember that! May we continue to enjoy the “special” places while knowing that truly every place is so. 💕

  6. Thank you Mimsy, Dear Heart, for your trip down Dangerous Road. What a remarkable place and I can only imagine it’s beauty and it’s draw. I’m not in Maine and it’s hot as blue blazes, but I’m sitting on my porch at 10 at night. The fan provides a lovely cooling breeze, the crickets are chirping, and my sweet dear Maine Coon, Garfield, is curled up beside me. In the morning while it’s still cool, I’ll drink my coffee and watch the hummingbirds at the feeder. In the midst of East Memphis, God still provides a bit of heaven. Miss you.

  7. Mimsy, we all have dangerous roads in our lives, be they physical locales or times when all seemed perfect. They are places and times where we can go for repair and rejuvenation. Thank you for reminding us that those places can be the here and now – how important it is to live in the present. This is what Jesus did, and what I believe He calls us to do.
    Peace,
    Martin

  8. “Dangerous” is a two-edged sword. Your backyard is lovely beyond delight, yet look at the Dangerous Road Jesus spells out for us. How long can any of us stay on it before we need a “stretching tree” (which, yikes! calls to mind the literal stretching tree he found himself on)?

    So happy y’all have and had Maine all these years. And, though inappropriate, ahem, I certainly hope you sneak off to some out-of-the-way special oak on your magic walk and carve Mj +FJ in a ♥️ for future dangerous trekkers.

  9. Beautiful – thanks as always for your inspiring words. I enjoyed the walk on the dangerous road with you!

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