I was recently taking a trip up north from down state. Though I’ve headed to this small town hundreds of times in my life, I decided that I would let my new GPS guide me. The beginning of the route was identical. However, as I got closer to my destination, my GPS decided that it had a new and apparently quicker route. Going against my better judgment, I decided to listen to my GPS rather than my instinct that was telling me I should take the safe and sure route. It was an adventure I decided, and maybe it knew something I didn’t and I would shave some time off my trip.
As I got closer to my destination, I became concerned when I saw some sort of symbol in the corner of my GPS that I didn’t recognize. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand what the GPS was trying to tell me, and I didn’t have the patience to pull over and look at the instructions. Another 15 minutes later I got my answer when a sign told me that this beautiful road I was travelingon dead-ended at a ferry boat 5 miles ahead. Keep in mind that I didn’t even know it was possible to cross a body of water to get to this location, but sure enough, upon closer examination, the symbol in the corner did look awfully like a little boat.
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After a few moments of fury, I decided that I had no choice but to follow my new guide - turning around would have cost me at least an hour. I had no idea where the ferry led, or if it were even open at that time of night. Well, lo and behold, the ferry was open, I got right on, and five minutes and three dollars later I was across the lake and on my merry way.
Being one who always looks for the deeper meaning or lesson in my experiences, I got a good laugh at analyzing my ferry experience. On one hand, I felt like life was telling me that I needed to trust myself first and foremost, even in the face of someone (in this case something) that seems to have all the answers. On the other hand, once I made the mistake, rather than staying in a rage, I decided to go with it and see it as a new adventure. I felt like that shift in perspective allowed me to surrender and once I did, I actually enjoyed my ferry ride quite a bit.
Thank you GPS.
Jeffrey Mindell writes poems, articles, comics, and has even written a few books (unfortunately yet to be published). He can be reached at jmindell@gmail.com |
