Every night I say a prayer
in the hope that there’s a heaven
And every day I’m more confused
as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child
have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside

so afraid that I’ve lost my faith

Show me the way, show me the way…*

Right about this time, you are wondering why is he wandering around in the Styx. Please allow me to explain.

I’ve done a little traveling in my time. Not as much as some folks do (I have not been to Every Point On The Map) but enough to have garnered a story or two to go with my hats. I’ve found, along the way, that you can’t always get from point A to point B, at least, not without detouring through points once unknown.

Such was a business trip to Europe a few years ago. My colleagues and I dutifully arrived at Will Rogers World Airport with time to spare, only to learn of a mechanical issue that would prevent our connection flight off the North American continent. A few phone calls later, I had an extra stop in Zurich, Switzerland added to our itinerary, and it would only cost us a few early morning hours at our destination.

Zurich, accordingly, was the waypoint where I obtained hat 10 of 27, save 1. One of my colleagues on said trip has said “you can’t count the destination if you never leave the airport”. I disagree. You see, life is not only experienced in arriving at our final destination, but in the journey and those we encounter along the way.

Such was my flight to Zurich. I’m a closet introvert, but life’s experiences have often called me out to be much more. I claimed my less than desirable middle of the row seat, and worked to introduce myself to the older gentleman to my right. What ensued was a conversation that lasted the better part of our seven hours together crossing the Atlantic. We shared stories of family. We talked about what made us proud as fathers. We spoke of our faith, or at least our hope for something more.

And as I slowly drift to sleep,
for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there’s peace
in a world so filled with hatred
That I wake up each morning
and turn on the news
to find we’ve so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign,
so afraid that I just won’t know

Show me the way, Show me the way
Take me tonight to the mountain
And wash my confusion away…*

My newfound friend spoke of his life, of his views of the Church in Europe, and what he thinks it means to have a soul, and what becomes of us when these mortal bodies are no more. While we did not agree, neither did we disagree, and the magic of Apple technology allowed us to share intimate literary concepts that each could read in his native language. By the time we where “wheels down” in Zurich, my friend had penciled out his home address, phone number, and email, and asked that I bring my family to Switzerland to spend time with him. Life has not allowed us to meet again, but I cherish the memories of those moments.

And it all happened due to a problem, a makeshift solution, and the insertion of an unwelcome “waypoint” on our journey.

Such is a great analogy for life in general. I’ve reached the age where much is changing, sometimes more rapidly than I care to comprehend. And its OK. I’m currently enjoying Clayton Christensen’s newest book, “How Will You Measure Your Life”, and he has much to say about finding joy and meaning in life’s unintended detours.

I may find myself from time to time in a place that I never intended, but life is experienced in the journey, and the full, unknown journey at that, not just in reaching our final destination.

Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I’ll get there someday
Show me the way

Every night I say a prayer
In the hope that there’s a heaven…*

*Lyrics by Styx