Starbucks was less than a mile away. At least that’s what Google told me as I left the beach in search of coffee and free wifi. I hiked up a street and walked down two flights of stairs. I went around some buildings. I stopped inside Walgreens for water because I didn’t know how much farther I had to go. A block later I was there.
Well, I wasn’t at my destination, but I was on a street I knew well. I was on a street I’ve been on so many times before. I was on familiar territory and didn’t need Google Maps anymore.
The funny thing was, I started at the beach that I knew so well and ended up on a street I knew so well. But all the little roads in between them that took me up and down and around were roads I’ve never walked before.
How could two very familiar things be separated by a tiny hill?
That’s all that really stopped me in the past. I never crossed the roads that went up and down and around because I didn’t know what was beyond them. From that familiar street, I couldn’t see the coast. From the coast, I couldn’t see the street.
I never dared make the connection in fear of getting lost. To be fair, I get lost easily. Maybe it was because I was on foot this time that made me feel more comfortable. More in control because I wasn’t at risk of driving down a one-way road the wrong direction, or running out of gas because I couldn’t find parking. On the other hand, I am reminded of just how out of shape I am!
I wonder what discoveries I missed out on because I didn’t want to cross a tiny hill.
What destinations have we not reached because of fear? What connections did we not make because we weren’t in control?
We don’t always see beyond the hills in our lives. We don’t see past the bend or know what’s up ahead. We look at the hill in front of us and only see the roads that go up and down and around.
Keep going.
What hill are you facing up ahead? What roads are stopping you from crossing? Is it fear, worry, the unknown, or things you can’t control?
Don’t let a tiny hill stop you from discovering the other side. You might find something comfortably familiar or excitingly new. You might find yourself a new adventure or find yourself at home. Whatever it is, you’ll never know until you get there.
