the trail…

he had these irrational fears…always scared…would get frightened beyond control at times…couldn’t talk sense to him…was convinced the whole world was falling apart and he was at fault…thought it was something he did…had no peace…

told him one day he was losing his mind…said there was more to life than being afraid…asked him what he was terrified of…what was it…he’d have to go deep inside to find that answer…lots of soul searching…all of us eventually have to seek out truths about ourselves…all of us…

so he quit his job…went for a long walk across country looking for himself…trying to shake those fears…strolled from North to South along The Appalachian Trail…just alone with a backpack…a canteen…some clothes…Leaves Of Grass…man does not live by bread alone…

left in the spring and came back in the fall…seemed different…said he faced himself everyday…would sit down on the earth and take his soul out and examine it for hours on end…looked at his mind…heart…knew every inch of his being…every inch…down to the last gray hair…

asked if he was still afraid of life…shook his head…didn’t say anything…could tell…he was at peace…he’d found peace…