EXCERPTS

Chapter 1: The Meandering Way

“To meander” simply means to take a winding course. Meander¬ing is like taking a casual stroll on the beach—stopping to look for shells, watching the sandpipers play “dodge the waves,” smelling the misty fragrance of the salt air, and soaking up the rays of the sun. Meandering is like walking leisurely through a forest around rocks and tree stumps following the contours of a crooked, mossy path. I am deeply indebted to a few special people in my life who modeled this meandering pace for me long before I was ready to embrace it.

Ed and Barb Shultz are two of these special people for me. Cancer claimed them at a much-too-early age, but their spirits and the meandering lessons they left behind are etched indelibly in my heart. When I first met them, I thought them odd. Who in their right minds spends a Saturday morning well before sunrise sitting on a damp rock ledge looking through binoculars for bald eagles? What kind of person spends a Sunday afternoon walking at a snail’s pace through the woods—one looking up to catch a glimpse of whatever bird was warbling away in the trees while the other was looking down to find a trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, or fern? I regret that I used to merely tolerate these outings just to be near their daughter. But in spite of myself, something of their meandering spirit infected me.

Now there is nothing I enjoy more than being outdoors. I find myself drawn to nature, trying to see what my in-laws were looking for and found for themselves. They discovered that when we avail ourselves to the vastness of creation, we have a much better perspective on life. That problem we allow to ruin our sleep or the worrisome thought we let rob us of our best daydreams; the desire to do something spectacular, to overextend ourselves at work, or to become something greater than we already are begins to shrink under the immenseness of everything that surrounds us.

How we experience this meandering way is unique to our own personality styles and preferences. For example, as an extroverted and fairly laid-back guy, I experience and enjoy meandering in a way very different from my wife, Kim, who is introverted and very structured. I like to hang out at the beach, fish, sail, and be with lots of people. Kim enjoys reading, spending time alone, and organizing things. When we vacation together we have to negotiate our activities so that both of our needs are met.

What is important about meandering is the pace and focus individuals bring to whatever activity or task we are involved in. Whether we are working at our desks, doing something outdoors, reading a good book, listening to great music, or reflecting on a painting or sculpture, meandering allows us to be more engaged in the task and to soak up more of the experi¬ence of the moment. Unlike drivenness—getting somewhere fast or accomplishing our goals the quickest way possible—meandering slows us down and helps us appreciate the here and now, where we are in the journey, what we are experienc¬ing, and who might be walking beside us…

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