I’ve been on the road the last several weeks. Thought it might be a good time to report back in.
During a particular presentation I’ve given in the past I would tell my audience the only constant is “change.” That is still true today. Having said that, my travels reminded me of a few other things that are constant, reliable, predictable, and for me – comforting.
The Rocky Mountains are just as majestic and awe inspiring in 2021 as they were three years ago when I last saw them. As a matter of fact, they are as breathtaking as they were more than 25 years ago when I first saw them. Their sheer size reminds me of how small I am on this planet. I never take their grandeur for granted and always feel a bit of sadness when they disappear in my rearview mirror.
Cornfields and bean fields in the Midwest continue to paint the landscape green every summer. Despite the hardships farmers face – be it weather, pests or demand – their fields always produce in the summer months. In my opinion, farmers are under appreciated. They feed the country and the world year after year. Driving on county roads gives an appreciation of what a farmer does and the beauty of their work. Seeing those same fields from the air gives an artistic perspective of the patchwork quilt they create and cultivate every year.
Mark Twain once said,
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
That quote reminded me of driving through the country on the 4th of July looking for fireworks shows across the prairie horizon. We were actually flabbergasted by the number of displays exploding across the sky. As we admired the show above we were also treated to a spectacle of hundreds of fireflies across the fields. It was as if they were letting us know a firework and a firefly can provide two different, yet enchanting displays, for our personal enjoyment. Two more constants.
So what’s the point?
Mountains, prairies, fireworks and fireflies. Despite everything this country and the world has been going through these things persist. Oh I’m sure you can think of many more examples. Just wanted to share what touched my heart and head in my recent travels.
It’s that predictable, consistent, comforting feeling we long for when the world seems to be going haywire. We want to know the mountains are still standing majestically. We feel comfort the prairies are consistently yielding crops and the fireflies still light up a summer night.
The fireworks? The fireworks remind me of the freedoms we have as Americans. As they transform the sky they illustrate the beacon we must be for one another. You cannot light a path for someone else without brightening your own way.
As Americans, we should be reliable like the crops and the farmers who grow them. We should be steadfast and strong like the mountains. My friend Buck impressed upon me years ago to say what I mean, mean what I say and walk my talk at all times. We should expect this of one another and especially of our leaders. As I have said before we need to ask the hard questions, seek the truth and be courageous in the pursuit of it.
Until next time…