Not all that Wander are Lost!

A few years ago I had a lovely time visiting the historic Stonyhurst College in the Ribble Valley, a place that inspired J R R Tolkien to write his Middle Earth Trilogy that included The Lord of the Rings.

Thank you gloucesterservices.com

During the month of May I was travelling back from Devon and stopped at the Gloucester Farmhouse Service Station. As I entered and approached the restaurant, in front of me was a man who was wearing a white T-shirt with some very interesting words on his back: ‘Not all that wander are lost’!

As I returned home I was intrigued to find out where the quote had come from and searched to find initially, it was referred to by the famous rock singer Henry Rollins who was the lead singer in the punk band State of Alert and then the front man for the group Black Flag from the early 1980’s.

However, after further research I then found out that it was originally a quote by J R R Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings.

Going back to the man wearing the T-shirt I am not sure as to who he favoured most, Henry Rollins or J R R Tolkien? What is interesting me at the moment is when we wander, do we think it is a waste of time and energy or in reality does our wanderings take us to new and exciting places that we otherwise would not experience?

Another famous writer around the theme of wandering is expressed by the well renowned poet William Wordsworth’s entitled Daffodils (I Wandered Lonely as a Child).

Part of the meaning of the poem is that when we are wandering aimlessly or purposefully in life or when we may be ‘vacant or in a pensive mood’ nature has a wonderful and expectant gift of surprising us.

Wordsworth’s heart was ‘filled and danced’ with pleasure as he saw ‘ten thousand golden daffodils’.

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As a former Postman, for two years and a part-time Taxi-Driver when at college, I would occasionally get lost in my travels but found that in doing so it would often be a prelude to finding the place I wanted to get to and in the process see many unexpected places and situations along the way.

When we are out travelling, on our own or with friends, along a known or unknown path for the first time, it often seems longer and more difficult than when we return by the same path that has become a little more familiar to us.

Wandering in whatever form, can be both a traumatic experience not to be repeated or full of fun just like William Wordsworth when he takes us to that ‘host and crowd of golden daffodils’.

Thank you Wikipedia

Lee Marvin’s song Wand’rin’ Star, from the stage musical Paint Your Waggon in 1951, is another composition that references a person’s life wanderings from birth and the lyrics include “home is made for comin’ from, for dreams of goin’ to”.

So a question to consider, is how should we plan and approach life situations that include relationships, career, personal development, faith and unexpected happenings?

A guide as how to live and conduct relationships would be very helpful in the light of how easy we encounter broken relationships as well as really happy ones. A specific map would be great to instruct us how to arrive at the exact places we want to get to.

Having a set career pathway that is unique for each one of us would be ideal and save a lot of distress and confusion that we all encounter in seeking to find and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.  

In regards to personal development, particularly when we feel lost and confused and do not know which way to wander or travel, we may find help and guidance from a family member, a teacher, a doctor, counsellor, coach, spiritual adviser or close friend.

In the Book of Proverbs, that forms part of Wisdom Literature, we find a number of sayings that refer to wandering in life and the value of wisdom to guide and help us to avoid any pitfalls:

• ‘Make level paths for your feet and take only the ways that are firm’ (Proverbs 4: 26).

• ‘A man/woman who strays away from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead’ (Proverbs 21: 16).

• ‘Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man/woman who strays from his/her home’ (Proverbs 27: 8).

J R R Tolkien offers other sayings that include “All that glitters is not gold”. “The old that is strong does not wither”.  “Deep roots are not reached by the frost”. 

Such reflections, alongside other sayings in life, offer us a variety of advice that challenges us how best we might apply such wisdom to our complex, exciting, wandering and straightforward lives.

Not all that wander are lost!

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At times it is important to relax and purposely seek to change gear and slowdown in life and take time to reassess the present and consider our aspirations and dreams for the future.

Also when we take a walk in the rain or feel distracted we will often hold our heads down and only see what is immediately in front of us. This compares to when we walk in beautiful sunshine and feel good we will invariable have our heads held up high to enjoy the surrounding views.

At this present time, decide intentionally to, slow down in your busy wanderings, to relax more and enter a different pace of life as we chase those ‘rainbows and pipe dreams’.

We are not lost as some may think in our wanderings but with renewed faith, hope and trust we can look forward to a brighter future full of wisdom, goodness and blessings.

Selah (Pause to think carefully on what has just been read)

Graham

Check out exploretoinspire.uk  for further Encouragement for Daily Living