Every now and then, a phrase will grab me and throw me into
a whirlwind of thoughts. What does that phrase really mean? And what does it
mean for me? Waiting on a flight recently, I overheard a TV interview that I
could not see from where I was seated. The phrase in the interview that leaped out at me was “I have chosen to carve out my own path.”
At first the thought of this phrase exhilarated me. How
exciting to be able to choose one’s own destiny. How freeing to not be limited
by what other people tell you to do. How thrilling to be able to design a path
in life that has never been taken before.
It sounds nearly irresistible, but it does not come without
its challenges. Carving a path is nothing like charting a course. The airlines
charted a course to get me to Pittsburgh and back. The GPS on my phone charted
a course to a local restaurant. I even
consulted a good old-fashioned paper map and landmarks to navigate downtown
Pittsburgh.
When I chart a course, I merely connect a set of
pre-determined paths together. When I carve a path, I am embarking on something
entirely new—uncharted territory, as it were. And carving a path is much harder
than following a course.
When I used to hike in the Grand Canyon, the unmarked paths
required a great deal of effort. I needed to be very aware of my surroundings,
and constantly focused on the path for each step I took to avoid twisting my
ankle on rugged terrain. I also needed to search for cairns to be sure that I
was following the right path. When I would come upon a clearly defined, smooth
and level path, I called it a “highway” and was immediately able to increase my
speed (especially helpful if I was losing daylight), or just cruise along
almost as if I was on a conveyor belt.
So as enchanting as carving a path for my life sounds, I
realize that it requires a lot of hard work. But if I think of my life—this precious,
precious gift—as a pre-programmed setting on a GPS that anyone can access, or
even as a safe and sure smooth path that requires little effort on my part, I
am saddened. Such a life seems so boring, predictable and uninspiring.
Looking at carving a path may seem like too much effort. (I picture
bushwhackers hacking out a trail in the jungle.) But if I consider carving a
path like carving a statue, then I find hope. It has been said of great artists
that to create a beautiful statue, they merely remove the excess material to
reveal the beauty that was hidden within. So, I will march forth in a unique
way in the hopes of revealing the singular life that has been gifted to me. I
hope you will, too!
