Horizon: North

Where to begin?  Oh, I know.  As much as we love to rely on technology, does it seem to fail us just as often as it helps?  Or at the least, the worst possible time?  That’s how my trip to South Dakota started.

I had never been north of Kansas before, even though I was swapping one flat landscape for another.  So of course GPS was my crutch.  I had even taken the time to write out the directions step-by-step, only to leave them behind somewhere.  I most likely lost them.  Had the thought of making another, but decided to put my trust in technology.  My mistake.  Instead of a straight shot north through Nebraska then onto South Dakota, my phone decided I needed a detour and directed me through Lincoln, Omaha, and then over the bridge into Iowa.  WTF?!? Iowa?!?  Anyway, the only real irritation is that States north of Kansas apparently don’t trust their citizens to drive more than 65 MPH on the highways.  After eight incredibly long hours of driving I arrived, and brought the Kansas wind with me.

Yup, looks like Kansas.

The purpose of this excursion was part vacation and part spending time with one of my closest friends.  Some of you may have come across her webpage.  No specific plans were made while I was there.  Mostly I wanted to observe, experience a small segment of her world.

I expected to learn a few things.  I didn’t expect my perspective to change so drastically.

“You have only to believe if you wish to achieve. That rhymed. Unintentionally.”

Lately I’ve felt stuck.  It seems like I watch idly by as others progress through their lives.  I don’t envy them.  I couldn’t be happier actually.  I’ve never considered myself a jealous person, but every now and then as I hear about someones latest accomplishments a sense of envy, or self loathing, creeps in.  It always passes, usually leaving behind clarity and determination.  One thing I admire most of my friend is her ability to “just go for it”.  I’m not wired that way, I have to cover all my bases, and all too often live by the mantra “better safe than sorry”.  It’s always proved useful, but it’s held me back.

I don’t believe things just “happen by coincidence”.  Everything happens for a reason, the difference between “chance” and “purpose” is how much time you spend analyzing your experiences.  I met the family she was staying with, they are awesome.  These were the very definition of “salt of the earth” people.  I felt just as at home there as I would with my own family.

They DID build this.

Through time, with hard work they had made their claim in life.  Left their mark and continue to do so.  Not because they needed to show the world what they could do, but because they loved it and wanted to share it with others.  It was most evident by the act of bringing one of my closest friends into their family.  This brings me back to “nothing happens by chance”.  God materialized these circumstances for her, through her choices, doors opened.

In those moments I didn’t have any revelations, no epiphanies.  That didn’t happen until the 8 hour drive back home.  I don’t know exactly when it all started “clicking”, but when it did it hit me like a mack truck.  I’ve been through some difficult times in the past couple years.  I won’t get into that right now.  But they were events which change lives forever.  Change that can better you or sometimes, sadly, cause your spiral downward.  In my case I believe it made me stronger but also caused me to stall.  To retreat and become reactionary instead of proactive.  The 72 hours spent in South Dakota changed that.

I witnessed hard work, determination, perseverance.  My friend still forging her way, one experience at a time.  In the same moment observing the outcome of “sticking with it”.

This is the first chapter for the “Horizon” series.

I’m done waiting.  Let’s party.