The way

So obviously, I'm rather late with this posting. In my defense I started on my entry Tuesday night, but being about a topic I vehemently oppose I worded it ways which I probably shouldn't and so have been re-writing it over and over. I'm still not done the entry, so I'm going to post about something utterly unrelated until I've finished it.

The way.
Everyone is always talking about the best way, or things in or out of their way. But what is their way, and why is it so very important?
As I move through life, I try to keep my way as fluid as possible, taking a lesson from the Nordegg River. One rule governs it: if an opportunity presents itself, I have to take it. I've lost count of how many times I've been late for class because I was compelled to stop and help someone out of the ditch or take them to fetch gas for their starved engines. On one hand, I have given up some time, but in the scheme of things, I have really given anything up, or have I simply traded it? Who knows what I might gain from meeting this person? Yesterday, on my way to symphony I met one of the double base players, how? I started chatting with a random stranger as we walked toward the Winspeare center. Even if I gain nothing though, I've been on the other end and being stuck or stranded or broken down is not fun. If I don't stop, who will? And if minutes of my time saves hours of theirs, shouldn't I?
A fellow I know, both as a school teacher and the father of a close friend, told me something once which has stuck with me. This was years ago and his son and I had been hanging out, and when it came time for us to return to our homes his father drove me to mine, which was a half hour or more out of his way. As I stepped out of his vehicle I thanked him for going so far out of his way, to which he shrugged dismissively and said that depends on how you define his way.
It's entirely true. Friday night a comrade from kung fu asked for a ride to his home which is one the opposite side of the next town in the opposite direction from my destination. Oh well. Without hesitation I told him to hop in, we hit a coffee shop and were on our way.
Logically, this would be out of my way since it tripled my drive time to get home, but I did arrive at home, so going past his house in clearly on one of the possible paths to mine.
So, in short. The shortest path between two points is a straight line, but getting caught up in that will make you miss the journey.

Ben Davies
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
www.silentriverkungfu.com