UP THE ROAD…and down it, too!

By Travis W. Lewis

April 8, 2024

“I’ve been up the road and down it, too.” That was the model response from my late mother-in-law, Dean Nowell, to authenticate her opinion of a subject in discussion and of which she had definite views. After hearing her spend her opinion countless times with those terms over many years, I began to consider if the thought made any sense at all. And, lo and behold, as I pondered, I concluded that it does.

Maybe the same thought could be expressed in other contemporary terms, like, “Been there and done that.”, or, “I’ve seen this before, and I know how it always turns out.” But, as I continued to muse the saying, the more practical the thought became. And, here is the real-life application I found.

Travelling along a path in one direction provides certain views from a single angle as that specific time of day sheds a unique intensity of light upon what the eyes and mind see and discern. Yet, retracing the identical route from the opposite direction, even at the same time of day and with the same ambient light conditions, may spawn differing paradigms of what we in fact behold. The same hills and hollows, same curves, same structures, same trees and vegetation are being seen at the same rate of movement by the same set of eyes and assessed by the same mind. Yet, all is being seen from only two angles –being 180-degrees apart – which may develop differing perspectives of reality. Even so, whatever is there is there, and, regardless of differing private interpretations, reality does not change.

By meshing the two perspectives, and by having conceived clear views from both directions, a single mind may quickly assess, or reassess, what it has previously interpreted reality to be. Yet again, the discerning eye has beheld only two basically horizontal views of reality. What change in perspective would be wrought by additional views from a potentially infinite number of other horizontal angles and distances, or from a similar number of vertical perspectives? Or for the trained eye to observe a topographical map of the area? How do those views relate to the surroundings that cannot be seen from linear trips, either from “up” or “down” the road?

With that metaphor, maybe the greater lesson is that many, if not most, of our assessments of reality are limited by the number of perspectives to which our experiences and minds have been exposed – especially with pertinence to spiritual matters. Too soon, we may become comfortable with a view that cannot withstand the scrutiny of “Truth”, or reality. After all, “reality” is whatever corresponds to immutable Truth molded from Heaven’s view.

Lest anyone discern this essay to posit the view that reality, or Truth, does not exist, the intended message is quite the opposite. Again, Truth is whatever conforms to reality. Truth does exist, and it can be found, though not often without prayer and resolve. Especially when pertaining to issues affecting our service and relationship to God, Satan’s goal is to make sure that Truth is hidden from our comprehension, at least from a casual level. Its discovery may require clearing of some longtime assumptions by which it has been long overlain, though many originated in pure paganism. So, expect riddance to be difficult and to not occur overnight because overlaying crusts must be scraped away before Truth shines through in its fullness.

From the beginning, be prepared for Satan to supply stiff resistance that may wreak emotional pain and strain relationships. Ironically, stiffest opposition often comes from well-intentioned hearts. Overlay of old customs, regardless of their hollow, distracting, or pagan-like origin, may have become thick and encrusted. If so, they are not usually uprooted quickly, easily, or without sundry expense. Nevertheless, the quest for Truth must be encouraged and pursued, and its progress is evinced when sought by groups of like-minded, prayer-laden people. That is the simple church model devised by Jesus himself.

Yet, with God’s help, the beauty of godliness begs for its own discovery, then to be internalized within the human breast and radiated to a world that thirsts for something real and true. Such a quest for Truth – reality – of Heaven’s view of life and worship is, without exception, worth its cost. Ω © 2024