The Hike

(a fable for my husband...for Father's Day.)




Once there was a man who went to a wooded park
to take a hike.

The park was large and filled with wonders
So much so that a map was drawn to guide
hikers in their rambles.

When the man arrived at the park
he received one of those maps,
and he took it to a little outdoor amphitheater
near the park's entrance.

Many people sat on wooden benches there
with all their maps spread out before them.
They discussed and debated their maps,
holding them all different directions.

They considered the best route to take.
They marveled at the nuances of the map's design
and anticipated how this would aid their hiking ventures.

The man listened for a while;
But then he grew restless,
Meanwhile the others began to argue over their maps.
They began to disagree strongly,
As some began to doubt the scale,
while others wondered
just how accurate the map could possibly be.

"Did any of you actually know the cartographer?"

Finally, some set the maps on the benches
and simply left the park entirely.

The man almost joined the arguers.
Next he almost joined the leave-takers but then...

He saw a little boy,
A little boy just waiting.

"Has it always been like this?" the man asked the child.

The child looked around, assessing the atmosphere all around him.

"Pretty much," the child said, dropping his head back again
resting it on the wooden bench where he lay.
He went back to watching the clouds roll overhead.

"What do you see up there?"
the man asked, amused.

"The only thing that would look the same
if I were actually hiking," the child said.

The child's voice
--as much as his words--
gave the man thoughts of hope and sadness
Like two trees, appearing separate
but whose roots intertwine deep under the ground.

"Sometimes, I wonder how much good that map is really doing," the child observed dreamily.

"They're forgetting the point isn't the map. The map is a tool to point the way.
The point is the hike!"
The man grew adamant and became quite frustrated.

But just then, the child sat up eagerly.
"Are you going to actually...take the hike?" he asked.
"If you do, can I come along?"

And so they went.