Disaster on the Path

The path we all travel is treacherous; there are many dangers and obstacles along the way.  There are many things lurking in the shadows that will hurt us if we are not careful, and some of them we cannot prevent. Many times we are injured along the path, and must fight through the pain to continue on our journey.

Today as I follow my path I am reminiscing about a forest fire that happened on my path a few years ago. It was a frightening time and it totally changed the course of my path, and the forest around it. Before the fire I had my path all mapped out, there were of course bumps and hills along the way I had not anticipated and I am sure there would have been more to come, but I knew where my path was leading; the destination was known. Major disasters, like a forest fire, can change the course of one’s path, and often changes the destination sometimes leaving it unknown. Change is always scary but a major change such as inflicted by a forest fire can really make you want to run and hide and never return to your path.

  I am ashamed to admit that I did run from the fire, I wish I had been brave and strong enough of character to continue walking through the fire, but like so many others I turned and ran. The fire brought chaos to what is normally a peaceful path, and as it raged on I hid, far away. I stayed off of the path for a long time, occasionally I would consider returning but I knew the path had changed and that it would take a lot of work to clear the path of all the debris and ash left behind.   When I finally got up the courage to return I found that the fire itself had burnt out quickly but what it left behind I did not recognize and therefore feared. I sat on a boulder for a long time, looking at the mess I had to clean up, knowing what needed to be done but afraid of the blood, sweat and tears I knew the clean up would cost me.

Finally with the help of a few good friends I began the tremendous task of clearing my path. You see while running from the fire was a cowardly thing to do, some good did come from it. Before the fire, I kept my path very secluded, it was peaceful but sometimes got lonely, when I was in hiding I reacquainted with some old friends and made some new ones, and now they often join me on my path.  While the fire was scary and the clean up grueling and still ongoing as I rediscover my path and must clean up as I go, it has now cleared away some of the forest and allowed me to choose new directions. I can now choose where my path goes and what turns and detours I take along the way. You see forest fires are sometimes necessary to clear the way for new growth and to fertilize and renew the soil; which is the foundation from which all things grow. 

As I return from my thoughts, walking still on my new path, I look around and see friends in the distance, only a shout away if I need them, and new growth all around me. I still do not know where this new path is headed and in the distance I see more debris to clean up, but I am no longer afraid. I am now excited to discover all this new path may hold and to choose what directions it will take.

“Personal disasters are like forest fires; they are sometimes necessary to clear the way for new growth and to fertilize and renew the soil; which is the foundation from which all things grow.”