We are never lost

On those days when we are lost or feeling lost and do not know our way, if we let go and trust, we always end up where we are meant to be. Because what I am learning is we are always where we are meant to be. Always. Even when we end up on paths we did not intend. Encounter roadblocks that we did not anticipate or find that we have been detoured another way. As long as we are moving with good intention, we will find our way. And if we are totally lost and turned upside down, then it is the Universe telling us we need to ask for help. And that help will guide us home.
These thought were illustrated for me yesterday when my family drove through Smugglers' Notch, beautiful, enchanting and picturesque Smugglers' Notch to get to Stowe. The Notch is only open during non-snow seasons because it is quite a steep and windy short cut through the mountains to Stowe. Large boulders jut out into the road so cars have to drive slowly and cautiously so that we don't meet another car head on. The road is also narrow so it would be virtually impossible to get through without a major accident when there is ice which is why the Notch is closed during the winter months.
It is one of our must routes to take when we come to Smugglers because I always feel like I am being pulled into an Enchanted land when we drive through it. It is, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular places on Earth. I always feel as if I am being transported to a different place and time when we drive through the Notch. I always look out for the fairies, leprechauns and other enchanted people and have not given up hope that they do exist. Even though I have not seen them yet, I do feel the presence of magic in that sacred space.
After spending a lovely afternoon in the idyllic village of Stowe, we drove back to the Notch to make our way back to our home away from home. My husband thought he had seen a sign that said the Notch was closed due to a stuck truck. But none of us saw it so we kept driving. Looking for other signs. To find none so we thought he was wrong. But he was not because when we got to the base of the Notch, a large truck and barriers were blocking the way. Cars were making U-turns. The Notch had, in fact, been closed because of a stuck truck.
Leaving us stranded at the base and at first we panicked because we did not know the way to get back to Smugglers' without going through the Notch. My husband got out of the car and asked one of the men standing on the side for directions. The man gave us some rather complicated directions and told us it would take us about half hour to get back to Smuggs. We thanked him and he hopped in his truck and drove away. We made the necessary U-turn and headed back to Stowe. Headed backwards in order to go forward.
Kicking ourselves for not following my husband's warning. My husband kicking himself for not trusting his instincts. Now we understood why the traffic had been so heavy coming into Stowe because that was the only way to get to Smuggs. After sitting in the line of traffic, we made the right turn onto Rte 108 thinking we were well on our way. Only to drive for what seemed like miles. I remembered the man saying we needed to head to Waterbury. And for some reason I remembered that was where the Ben & Jerry's Ice cream factory is - the original place where they were formed. But still it felt like we had been driving for too long. The only saving grace was that it was a beautiful route with rolling hills, open spaces and lots of interesting shops and homes. Topography to die for on either side of us and ahead of us.
After driving for about 25 minute we finally passed the Ben & Jerry's factory. We pulled into the gas station immediately following it to ask for directions. I had wanted to stop at Ben & Jerry's but my husband was adamant we needed to go to the gas station. As he rolled down the window to ask a man who was getting gas for directions, the man started to smile like he was familiar to us.
As my husband was about to ask directions, the man said, "Yeah I know, I was the guy who gave you the directions in the first place."
To which we all laughed. What were the chances that we would meet the same man who told us where to go at a random gas stations some 30 miles later? Out of all the people why had we met him again?
"I am heading toward Cambridge so you can just follow me. Once you get to Cambridge you will be able to find your way from there," he volunteered.
Instantly we were struck by the synchronicity of the moment, the kindness of the man and the fact that we were in the right place at the right time after bad timing that took us to the Notch. I knew why we drove all the way to the base of the Notch only to have to backtrack because we were meant to meet this man. This man who was going to lead us home. As we followed the man along the highway and through the meandering roads to Cambridge, we were grateful we had encountered him because we realized, it would have taken us a much longer time to find our way back. Without him, we would have stopped and started over and over again because the half hour drive he told us it would take, ended up taking over an hour. The one exit on the highway he told us we would need to take was the longest stretch between exits we had seen.
When we reached Cambridge and the man indicated he had to stop, we knew exactly where we were and were eternally grateful to the man for being so kind, for leading us where we needed to go. After our adventure yesterday what I realized was even when we are lost, even when we think we have lost our way, there is always a way home when we have faith and trust. When we are willing to admit we are lost and ask for help. When we are kind, kindness comes back to us in turn.
And most of all there are no coincidences in life. That man came to us for a reason and returned to us because our paths were meant to cross and recross in order for us to find our way home. As we discussed our plight last night, I said to my husband getting lost made me think we should have had GPS installed in the car. My husband had refused to have it installed when we rented the car because he said we know this area of Vermont so well but yesterday when we were lost I wished we had it. To which my husband responded, "If we would have had GPS, we would never have had the adventure we did. We would never have met the kind local gentleman as we would have relied on technology to get us where we needed to be, not human interaction."
And you know what he is correct. Though we did not have physical GPS, we had instinctual and spiritual GPS illustrated by our encounter with the kind man. Demonstrating to me that life is full of synchronistic events such that when we remain open and willing to ask for help, we are always led to where we need to be because we are always where we are meant to be. Further letting me know, we should never overrule the institutional and spiritual GPS that is always with us. Always guiding us and will never lead us astray.
There are no random acts. Every act is intentional and meant to be. Just as there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. And for the kind man who led us to where we needed to be, I am truly grateful. Making us fall in love even more with this beautiful and natural place called Vermont. Even though I still have not found any Olitz jam! Nor the house Fitz built for Olivia! Vermont is still an enchanting and magical place that has restored my faith in our natural GPS. We are never lost. There is always a way. Namaste.