As I wrote in my last post I am traveling around the country. At this point I am resting in California and about to return east. Driving through varying landscapes and past cities and small towns I wonder about the places I see. I wonder about the land. What are the native plants and animals? How much or little rainfall is there here? What kind of soil underlies the landscape? How is the land used, for agriculture, ranching, mining, tourism, or manufacturing? What jobs are here? What cultural events? What is the predominant spiritual life-outlook? Would I feel confortable living here?
For the most part, these questions go unanswered. I get hints. One town has restored its downtown and advertises a fall arts festival. There must be a commitment to the arts and the financial ability to sustain that. Another town seems to be centered on its oil wells, another has an agricultural focus. One town surrounded by ranch land has no gas station when I really need one, but a friendly grocery store with a bathroom. Some towns advertise hiking, biking, or rafting. I can’t learn all the answers or get a complete picture of the area. And each community has many facets, not one. My perceptions gathered from a few clues can only be superficial themselves.
This got me thinking that this observation applies to my life and I imagine other peoples’ lives as well. Much of what we do, much of what we know of others, our communities, and the natural world that surrounds us cannot be in depth. We are passing through many aspects of our lives. Those parts that can be in depth are only a few. Our stores of time, energy, and personal resources are limited. Driving through so many communities helped me realize this. And this realization lead to another. We need to carefully choose what aspects of our lives we will cherish and live in depth. This can be challenging during some periods when responsibilities like supporting a family take precedence. But it is still important to understand this truth. We are limited, our lives have limits. How we make choices can lead to meaning and satisfaction or meaninglessness and dissatisfaction.