An Exercise in Imagination

Imagine you're on a journey. You were given some survival tools, a map that clearly outlined your trip and sent on your way. Initially the road is clear, you can see your destination clearly on the horizon. As you skip along happily you find yourself entering an unexpected valley. The slope takes you deeper into the valley and you begin to realize what an uphill climb you'll have to reach the end. As you look up the other side of that valley, you can't see the destination any more as that horizon is now blocked by the uphill slope.

Progressing further the trees start to thicken until you're deep within a forrest. At times the trees are so think they block the sky and the light and leave you cold and stumbling in the dark. Surprized by the valley and the forrest, you check your map and realize you were handed the wrong one by mistake - the map you're carrying tells pilots how to plot a course to the destination and fly straight through the clouds, the same clouds you can't see from under the forrest's canopy. And just like that, you are lost.

There are road signs - all roads lead to your destination, but each one by a different route, a different series of obstacles, and without a map you must choose a path and push forward. SO, with prayer and hope and support you pick a path and jump in. Each twist and turn surprizes you with unexpected challenges, hills and pits, quicksand, high winds, scary animals, fallen trees...

Finally you reach the end of the forrest and the sky starts to appear as the branches lessen, the sun shines down and warms your face, clears your mind... ahead of you is the hill out of the valley, but you are close enough now to see the glow of your destination like a far off city lighting up a night sky.

I doubt at this point that you'd feel comfortable. There's still the risk of unexpected hurdles, dangers, snags, impediments as has been the pattern of the journey to that point, but there is a sense that the worst of the journey is behind. There is still a steep hill to climb, but the goal is back in sight, and closer than it has ever been. I imagine emotions would be a tangle of everything from lingering fear to joyful anticipation. Nerves bundled up with plans and heart and prayers.

At least, that's how I think it would be.

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