Road Less Traveled

While coming home from a lake visit earlier this week, my GPS was telling me to go a different route than we normally take to get home. Like most people, we usually take the fastest route for our 52 mile journey with most of that being highway miles.

On Monday, though, I was the only one in the car. It was mid-afternoon of a beautiful sunny day. I wasn’t in any particular rush. I thought, why not? GPS was telling me that the alternate route was just a few minutes longer. I decided to forgo speed and chose adventure instead. Instead of turning left, I stayed on the road straight ahead.

Was I ever glad I did!

I found myself in Amish farm country. I drove through towns with just seven or eight buildings and one traffic light. I saw several men plowing their fields, standing on old-fashioned plows behind a couple of horses. I saw a couple women driving buggies to and from I don’t know where. I saw a sign for “horse-shoeing.” I passed little barn markets offering locally made cheeses, salads, and jams. The landscape was lined with clothesline after clothesline hanging laundry out to dry in the fresh air. I saw a couple of children playing hopscotch. I saw a few cows, more horses, some sheep and a goat living the good life in a well-tended pasture. I saw chickens and hens and a sign offering fresh eggs for a dollar.

I did not see any traffic jams (I hardly saw any cars!). I did not see any litter on the side of the road. I didn’t see any graffiti. I didn’t see any electrical towers, or power lines or street lamps. There were no horns honking; no one was in a hurry. The only sounds I heard was the clip-clop of the horse & buggy and the birds chirping.

it was a most beautiful drive. I look forward to taking that route again.

Sure, sometimes you have to get to where you are going quickly. The highway might be the best route. But, when you have the opportunity, take the road less traveled. It just might take you back to a simpler way of life. It might warm your heart. It might reduce your stress. It might bring you a few minutes of marvel and calm and peace.

It might make all the difference.