WalkaboutWirt Blog Post #4

G'day!
I hope this finds you well!
Do you ever drive at night on country roads?
It has sometimes led to a variety of experiences for me, ranging from fun - as with a mother skunk or javelina shepherding their young along or across the road - to potential disaster. . . or even death.

Heightened vigilance is an important safety measure.
Nocturnal animals like kangaroos and deer are always a concern, depending on my travels.(A white-tailed buck deer pictured)


On one such occasion many years ago, I was driving along the winding road along the St. Regis River in western Montana with my father as my companion. It was very late at night with little traffic as we headed down through the mountains from Lookout Pass bordering with Idaho. My '67 Pontiac GTO purchased but a few months earlier was my joy, which I liked to test it's performance qualities and limitations. The driving lights I installed could light the country-side well ahead, giving me confidence enough to drive perhaps a bit faster than was probably sensible in the circumstance.

One drawback to them, regardless of their power to pierce the darkness, was like me, the inability to see around corners. As we came through a sharp left bend with a rock wall on the left, boulders along the river bank on the right, we were greeted by a small band of about four or five elk in the middle of the road. They were likely more surprised by the glaring headlights coming from the oncoming machine out of nowhere than we were to see them. It was no time to panic. In fact, there wasn't any time for that response.

Arguably the most majestic animals roaming the forests of that region, they froze in their tracks, unable to react with instinct in an immediate manner to avoid potential harm. Without time for me to stop my car in time to avoid a collision with one or more of the beasts, my response was to hit the brakes and try to find a way through a gap in the group - instantly.

Call it the good fortune of Divine protection by the grace of God, or just plain 'lucky', we passed through the sudden impending crisis of potential disaster unharmed. Not a scratch on the car or one of the beautiful creatures that were possibly quite puzzled by the experience.

As I picked up speed again to a lesser amount, I felt grateful we all came through unscathed. My father, then in his seventies with most of his life in that environment, quietly commented, "I wondered if that might happen."

Out of all of the players in that scenario, I think he was least surprised. He had witnessed an incredible passage of history as he once pointed out to me - from horse to automobiles, airplanes, space travel, and landing on the moon - two world wars and many others - and the very difficult times of world depression.

Like my father then, I am now into my 70's. Fortunately for me, I haven't faced the same degree of hardships. My life has been full of surprises, but again like my father, it seems that the older I get, the less I am surprised by what I see.

The relatively recent catastrophic events occurring in Australia and globally have not 'surprised' me by the happening - as much as by their suddenness and intensity. As I observe them and their impact, I must use discernment as to whether I will stand in the middle of the road, dazzled by the blinding effects of the headlights? Or will I take what action I can with discretion and whatever common sense I can muster in order to work my way through the dangers while attempting to maintain a sense of balance? How much should I take on board since much of it doesn't directly affect me?

My tack is trying to distance my self from the alarm and harm of panic reaction to what is presented to me through the media and some of the community. So far, I continue to greet each day with gratitude for being in such good health while living in an incredible country and world. Better instead to look fear in the face without embracing it, and to engage in activities that can inspire me and hopefully others. The world may be at war but I don't have to enlist in the battle to control. We can all find love and peace regardless of what is going on around us through our focus, perception, and intentions. May you find that within you through Nature and the tools of prayer and meditation! Bless you! Greg