Where are you headed?

Some young students saw an old man walking down a narrow country road one day, as they sat on a park bench eating their lunch. 

 

The elderly gentleman had a pack slung over one shoulder and a long, decorated, walking stick.  The walking stick clattered and jiggled with numerous bells and beads that hung from it.  A golf ball sized, cobalt blue, translucent bead decorated the top, held in place by a single brass screw.  Metal pins denoting military service covered the face of his pack, and a sterling silver Christian cross was attached to the main zippered pouch.  He was clean shaved and dressed in well worn hiking boots, blue jeans and a denim work shirt.  Atop his head was an olive colored felt, Australian outback hat.

One of the students yelled to him, "Hey!"

The old man stopped and turned toward the group, smiling as the teenager asked, "Where are you headed?"

 

The man tilted his head in the direction he was going and said, "That way."

The teen glanced at his friends who were giggling at the knowledge that not much was down that road except a trail head leading into the wilderness.  He looked back to the man and asked, "What's that way?"

 

His inflection elicited more giggling from his friends.

The old man continued smiling and raised an eyebrow as he answered, "Where I'm headed."

The other students chuckled at their companion as he continued, "No, I mean...well, don't you have a goal...a final destination?"

"Of course."  answered the old man began, "We should all have a goal.  Mine is my final destination.  When you kids find your goals, never lose sight of it them.  It makes it harder to arrive."

The young man was getting a little aggravated at not getting a straight answer.  He let out a sigh and asked his last question in an exasperated tone, "What is your goal?"

At this point the old man laughed with a twinkle in his eyes as he turned and continued his journey.  He yelled back over his shoulder to the group, "To arrive, young friends.  Our goal is to arrive.  Enjoy your journey!" 

 

Seconds later he went around a bend in the road and was lost from sight behind a tree.  The students waited for him to appear out from the other side of the narrow tree as he continued down the road.  He never did.  Just like that he was gone, as if he had walked through a door behind the tree. 

 

When the students went to see where he might have disappeared to, all they found was his walking stick leaning against  the tree.

 

The student that had asked the questions picked up the walking stick and rolled it in his hands.  He looked down the road, whispering to himself.

 

"Enjoy your journey."