Getting lost as a spiritual practice

Not all who wander are lost. Except when they are; a condition sometimes deliberately sought and other times a side effect.

Helpful sign in my sublet

After deciding to attend summer school and taking the steps that adventure entailed, I arrived in Cambridge on the night before orientation. While I managed to locate where to pick up my ID card and to buy books for my classes, it felt like I spent the weekend lost; not quite sure where I was, even while referring to the map provided at check-in and asking random passersby. But, in order to get oriented, sometimes you have to be willing to get lost.

Design of Cambridge street

Cambridge seems to have been designed by a committee of squirrels; using a planning strategy; “Here’s my acorn cache. Let’s make this a street.” Of course in defense of city planners, the streets were probably less of a problem 300 years ago when people would walk or ride horses. Cars have complicated things. Not only is there the need to consider the bulk and speed of motor vehicles; but when not operating, they have to be stashed somewhere. Most won’t fit on the porch, like a stroller. Parking is at a premium and penalties for violations seem to be the cost of using that mode of transportation; and probably a generous supplement for the city budget.

You can’t get there from here; or so it seems… Many of those random streets have been designated as One Way. While looking both ways on one way streets exemplifies a lack of faith in rational behavior; it seems warranted here. Many drivers drive the wrong way because even GPS devices can’t keep track of the restrictions. So, walkers beware. Pretend you are in England and check both ways before venturing across a street.

Also pedestrians, you can disregard signage indicating you have right of way in crosswalks. Don’t believe the signs; drivers are already ignoring them. The law enforcement budget tilts towards hiring squads of parking enforcement employees. Enforcing moving violations and protecting pedestrians is less lucrative and more complicated.

Knowing you are lost and being willing to ask for directions is not unlike enrolling in school. We realize that others have specialized knowledge that we want to access. Students follow the syllabus and depend on the professors to act as guides at the side; trusting the process and continuing to discover new worlds.

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. T. S. Eliot

#harvardsummer @Harvard_Summer @HarvardSummer

One thought on “Getting lost as a spiritual practice”

Linda Vidyashanker says:

July 17, 2016 at 11:11 AM

I am very happy to have found your site. I have known Janie for over thirty-five years, as she is married to my cousin Jess, I am very grateful that she is a member of our family.
She is a woman whom I admire , and that admiration increases as the years pass.
Janie has the courage to take steps into unknown worlds, so as to realize her dreams of what ” can be “, whether it be writing or philanthropy.
And she is gracious. She has been a kind and generous hostess,, always welcoming our family for holiday dinners when we were alone. I look forward to your continued missives.

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