Show Us What We Yet May Do

we've been on a long trip, so i was unable to post to my blog.   we've been back at home for almost a week and have rested up from our trip.

a few days after returning from our trip, my wife and i went with another couple to a nearby town that we had not visited before just to look around and to eat at a restaurant that has gotten rave reviews.  as we stopped at various points in the town, all of us were curious about what we would find as we stepped from the car, except for the husband of the other couple.  each time he remained in the car fiddling with his cell phone as the rest of us explored.  we had a great meal at the restaurant which all four of us enjoyed and each of us seemed to find the drive over and back worthwhile, as we gazed at the beautiful rolling hills outside our car windows.

when my wife and i returned to our own home, we were both struck by our male traveling companion's lack of curiosity.  while we were excited to leave the car and explore, he had no interest in what was beyond what could be seen from his seat.  the only time he left the car was to go into the restaurant to eat.  otherwise, he was pleasant company and had no objection to any of the stops we made, never complaining about how long he was left sitting alone.  i am puzzled that he is content to view the world from a distance.  if his solitary exploration of what he finds on his phone makes him happy, who am i to criticize?  yet, there seems to be something lacking when one finds little pleasure in sharing discoveries with others with whom we are in company.

i follow a good many blogs written by solo travelers, extolling the joys of exploring alone, and i sometimes try to imagine what it would be like to see new sights as a lone traveler.  it seems less pleasurable than having my favorite companion, my wife, with me and being able to share what we find together.  when we return from a trip, we love talking about what we found and our reactions to the experiences we had with one another.  i can't believe that i would have as much fun alone as i would with a congenial companion.

while i find times of solitude like the one i'm experiencing now as i sit and write necessary to my well-being, i'm equally dependent on spending time with others to round out my life.  what is life if one cannot share it with others, especially those we love?  i don't want to be with other people all the time.  in fact, i become quite stressed if i can't get enough time alone, but the opportunity to share life's experiences with others is as essential as my time to myself.  i'm curious about the world around me and the people who are a part of it.  traveling and seeing how other people live helps me to understand that, while our languages, cultures, ethnicities, and religions may be different, we are all very much alike.  being able to explore with a companion with whom i can share my reactions and discoveries makes the trip all the more worthwhile.

may we each find balance in our lives, taking time to be with the person we know best: ourselves.  may we find amiable companions to share our lives with.  may we understand our kinship to each other and relish those relationships.  may we be curious and eager to explore what we don't know or understand.  may we be filled with lovingkindness and respect for each person we encounter.  shalom.