Journey Through The Wilderness

During the Journey between your present situation and your intended destination, you will travel through a "Wilderness." This is a time after having made the most important life- changing decision of your life, leaving your past behind, setting a new track to run on ... focused on your future.

You decide to go for it ... whatever it will take. Preparation is your number one priority (don't leave for the trip without first packing). You take inventory, write down what is needed and begin. It will take YEARS. The microwave age, immediate gratification syndrome is a hopeless mirage. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish.

All the while, you feel like you are drowning in sand in the Wilderness. Each day is a new sun and a watchful eye for the deadly scorpion's bite. You persevere however, on hands and knees, crawling, moving forward inch by inch until the day's energy reserve is used up, afforded yet another night to recharge through sleep.

The only refuge is the vision in your mind ... the colorful spectrum of lights which makes you grimace and even giggle as your eye's vision flickers, fades in strain from pushing all you've got to make some more progress ahead.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809), a British-born American writer and Revolutionary leader knew what it was like in the Wilderness. He wrote the pamphlet Common Sense (1776) arguing for American independence from Britain. He escaped prosecution for treason in England, fled to Paris, where he became a member of the National Convention and was imprisoned (1793-94) during the Reign of Terror.

At age 38, he fought discrimination against women in his Pennsylvania Magazine. He journeyed to the new land (Philadelphia) after having failed as a corsetmaker and tax collector in England, twice failed in marriage, and with encouragement from Benjamin Franklin, tried his luck in America.

This is what he wrote about "Value" ...

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

During the 1776 Political Events, Continental Congress president John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence, writing his name in large letters and saying, "There, I guess King George will be able to read that." Benjamin Franklin said, "We must all hang together, else we shall all hang separately" and Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense," published at Philadelphia January 10, had persuaded many of the 56 signers to go for it.

What inspires one to take on this journey into the Wilderness? Is it the calling of the wind or some emptiness inside the heart just crying to escape? In any case, it is an endeavor you will never regret as you rock on that ole' rocking chair feeling the warm breeze as you live out your golden years thinking about where the time went.