In Transit

Recently, I was left with no choice but to walk alone, without access to my earbuds, or even a conversational partner. My particular circumstance lent itself naturally to dread regarding the upcoming chore of reaching my destination, which was in sight even from far away upon the opposite hill. I could see the goal. I knew intuitively that with each step I progressed toward it, even though I could see no visible difference in the distance between myself and my object. 

While in physical transit, utterly void of distraction, I found myself contemplating the sheer tedium of walking. The monotonous thump-thump of footfalls. The endless lifting and lowering of legs. The occasional arm-swinging as if flailing to escape the confinement of

such a task. I distinctly hated it. It was an awful chore.

Yet, as I progressed somewhat unwillingly towards my goal, the scenery around me warped and morphed, from trees and fields to suburban houses and street lamps. My thoughts began to coalesce as quickly as it seemed the world around me was flowing. I felt  as if I was swimming through the scenery at a breakneck pace, wholly unable to study the grandeur around me, and instead forced to take note in passing, just as a racecar driver reacting to a crash on the track.

Scripture and Nature both help us to look back to God and focus on Him.

To the self-centered, such transit is monotonous. If I am only observing myself, performing the motion of walking in a featureless void, is repetitive, uninteresting and dull. Without companionship, be it a human conversational partner or a podcast and earbuds, there is no growth or change occurring within oneself. There are no relationships being formed and nothing new being learned. Due to this, those fixated upon themselves find the walk tedious. 

Careful observers and advocates of the lone walk, however, will take note that we do not exist in a featureless void. This is at the heart of enjoying such transit: one must look outside oneself. The spectacle of God’s creation surrounding the pedestrian more than atones for the suffering of his tedium. As a moviegoer sits perfectly still, yet remains entertained, the solitary traveler continues his mindless rhythm bodily, even while his mind is engaged in the glorious creation around him. Furthermore, the moviegoer acquaints himself with the persuasions of the director through the film, and the silent, undistracted traveler likewise enables the scenery to reveal new truths about it’s creator as scenery guides his thoughts.

Whilst the solitary walk even still proves to be boring and meaningless to me, maybe there is benefit to be found in such an endeavor. Battling short attentions spans characteristic of my generation, or even the constant entertainment available at my fingertips, it seems as if this way of transit bears much value as it points me to my Creator. 

While I still find myself in revolt to the proposition of a solitary walk in day to day life, this experience helped me understand the immense worth of such an endeavor. No matter where I am, nature created by God will be present in some form. I can rely on it as a way to help remind me of what is really important as I journey through life, no matter how boring it seems.