A few years ago, Jennifer and I traveled through South Africa with our dear friend, Tim. I could tell a hundred stories about our trip, but there is one moment I hope to remember for the rest of my life.
While on safari, our tracker and guide was a 21 year old, little pixy of a girl named Lou. Her passion for the animals was contagious and in our short time with her, she taught us far more than we expected. Not just about nature, but about life. Having seen the world through very different eyes than me, she remains one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.
On our way home from a game drive, Lou said, “You are very special people…I have something I want to share with you. But you mustn’t tell anyone at the ranch.’’ We all agreed, without knowing what we were agreeing to.
Lou drove off the dirt road that had been carved out by a thousand drives before, and when she did, our path became noticeably rougher. We bounced harshly as the truck wrestled against the unfamiliar terrain. I didn’t feel safe, but didn’t ask questions for fear that I wouldn’t like the answers I’d get back. Finally, in a place we clearly didn’t belong, she stopped the truck and said, “We must walk from here.’’
The grass was tall and thick all around us and I more than half expected a lion to jump out and eat me. As we climbed down some sharp rocks, Tim slipped and busted his arm open. Oh great, I thought – blood in the air. I should just wear a sign around my neck that says, “Lunch”.
A short walk further and we arrived at one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen, an untouched and hidden world. We were standing at the edge of a jagged cliff looking down into a giant crevice. Below us were enormous trees that seemed to be as old as the earth itself. Swarming around us were hundreds of exotic birds unlike any I’d ever seen, singing songs I’d never heard. It felt like we were looking down on all of it from the sky, and yet, it was all around us.
Lou spread out a small picnic on a large rock and said, “This is my favorite place on earth. I’ve never brought anyone here, but I wanted to share it with you.’’ We sat there for about 15 minutes, basking in the glory of the road less traveled.
Right as we were gathering our things to leave, the crack of branches below froze us instantly and instinctively. My heart skipped – slightly from wonder, mostly from fear. The cracking grew louder and more destructive – and then we saw them. Four enormous elephants making their way to the stream below us, followed by three little babies and four more adults, surrounding them on all sides. The babies played clumsily together. The adults moved slowly, speaking to each other in barely audible tones. We only knew they were communicating because their actions were perfectly synchronized.
I have no worthy words to describe the next several minutes. All I can say is that it was mesmerizing and a certain kind of holy. I still can’t believe we were able to watch them so closely, with no fear of being harmed and without them knowing we were there for so long.
The wind changed and instantly, the trunk of the front elephant shot up in the air. It stretched out and up and zeroed in on us like a submarine scope. Almost immediately, all eleven of them turned around and began to head back the way they’d come.
We sat in complete silence for a moment. When I looked over at Lou, tears were streaming down her face. All she said was, “You are very blessed. I’ve never seen such a sight in all my life.” We headed back to the truck, changed by what we’d seen.
I’ve thought about that day many times since and have wondered if anyone else has sat on our rock and seen the show we saw. I doubt it. I think it was just for us.
The road less traveled is less traveled for a reason. A lot lies between the fork in the road and the realization that you made the right choice. It’s a long, hard road. The brush is thick. The path, unclear at times. You get knocked around and scraped up. You end up bruised, both inside and out…all for the hope of something beautiful up ahead.
Any reasonable person would wonder, “Is it worth it?”.
I’ve spent my fair share of time wrestling with that question. I still wrestle at times, even though my heart is settled. I wonder today if you could say the same.
Are you off the beaten path – stuck in the thicket – unsure of what’s ahead, except the very real possibility of danger or hardship? Maybe you’ve slipped on some rocks and you’re banged up and bruised. Maybe you’re wondering if you should turn around and get back to the normal trail carved out by less adventurous travelers. Whether you made a choice to be where you are or your circumstances put you there, I’m writing today to tell you this.
Keep going.
The road up ahead is better than you have words or experience to even imagine.
It will change you forever – and your story will change others.
Yes, the better road is also the harder road…
But it’s worth it.
The fact that you wonder if you were made for the road less traveled confirms that you were. Only the curious, the brave and tenacious among us have something to find.
Walk on.
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Great story and very relatable, not the elephants and South Africa part but the road less traveled part. Had I not taken “the road less traveled” I wouldn’t be where I am today, which is a very good place. I’m a former drug addict who now looks at life as it is and embraces it, not as it was or what it might be like.
I love your closing, “The fact that you wonder if you were made for the road less traveled confirms that you were. Only the curious, the brave and tenacious among us have something to find.”
Thank you for sharing your story
Kind regards,
Jerry
Dear Chance,
Found this article today, was glad I took the time to read it! My mission is to help save Africa’s elephants, this happened by `chance’ a few weeks ago when I got this idea to tackle China’s insatiable demand for ivory. It has led me to write Elephant family stories [like the one you described in your story] of a family enjoying life, before intervention of poachers, killing whole families at times and leaving many baby elephants orphans. Please check out my group on FB, 2014 Elephant Hungry Ghosts, using creative ideas such as worldview/psychology to educate Chinese buyers, they have huge disconnect between the animal + ivory product. Every year they celebrate Hungry Ghosts festival, believe graves open, ghosts come out to roam the earth. If not appeased, get angry. We say elephant ghosts come out too, looking for their ivory. In 2012 over 35,000 elephants were killed for their tusks. From 3-5million elephants to only around 200,000+ now, elephants are headed to extinction!
Sometimes the best map will not guide you
You can’t see what’s round the bend
Sometimes the road leads through dark places
Sometimes the darkness is your friend
Today these eyes scan bleached-out land
For the coming of the outbound stage
Pacing the cage
Pacing the cage
Bruce Cockburn
Chance,
Wow! This was exquisite, beautiful and poignant–it definitely hit a raw nerve for me. Still taking deep breaths to process the feelings it evoked. You keep writing articles like this, and making me cry at work, and I’m going to have to stop reading your blogs! ;-) Loved every word.
-Carmen
Wow, Chance. I felt a certain kind of holy just reading that story. Can’t imagine what that must’ve felt like. Thank you. Today I will look for more fresh angles and for thicker brush to move in.
Blessings,
Gwen
Awesome story, one you will always remember and love to share but ya’ll will be the only ones that will truly enjoy this memory and no words will ever describe the wonder of it all…
What a cool story! Great insight as usual, Chance! Thank you for sharing your journey and reminding us that it’s worth it.
Chance, thank you so much for this post!! It’s exactly what I needed to read as I’ve just chosen the less traveled road and I’ve been having doubts every now and then about my choice of becoming self-employed. I’m much happier now though and that’s what outweighs those doubts. That’s the reason why I’m determined to keep going. It would be a lot easier if people here were a bit more supportive… but I guess I want too much. :)
Chance. thanks for another great post.
Taking the road less travelled has been something I’ve been drawn to since early childhood. Although many times I get on the main road and the highways, I much prefer the byways of life. I’ve recently taken another less traveled road, leaving a regular job to be independent. It’s scary! Nevertheless, I’m confident the experience will bring rewards the person confined to life’s highways will only dream about.
Chance – great stuff buddy! Awesome story – would love to hear about the trip sometime! Hope you had some good time with the girls!