Are You Lost?

In a two day period last week, on four random and separate occasions I saw this quote:

All those who wander are not lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

The first time was on a bumper sticker as I walked through a parking lot. The second time on a Facebook post, the third in a novel I was reading and the four on a woman’s t-shirt who came into my work.

Now I am a firm believer that we receive messages from the universe all the time so when four chance occurrences happen within a short time period, I tend to pay attention. So let me state for the record to the universe, message received.

Or is it?

I got that there is a message for me but what does this quote really mean? This was the question that needed to be thought through and meditated on. I came up with three possibilities.

1. Sometimes when our lives are stuck we feel lost. We are not in the groove and feel off centre. It doesn’t matter what you try the universe continually throws up walls and you don’t seem to move ahead. Well maybe right now you are not suppose to. Sometimes life is meant to be fluid and you are suppose to wander for a while. Think of it as a holding pattern while you wait for your turn on the runway of life. While you are suspended from your next destination, why not enjoy the scenery. You might just find something more interesting to apply your interests. You are not lost, it’s just the universe is not ready for your next move at this time. Relax and enjoy the view.

2. There are followers and there are leaders in life. Some who wander are leaders. They are not content to follow along a predetermined path. They are the trailblazers. These wanderers make the new paths for the followers to follow. These people are the adventurers and inventors of the world. They may seem like they are lost in their own world but what they discover while out wandering can be amazing blessings for the rest of us.

3. What if your were meant to wander? That it is really your path in life. Some people know at a very young age what they need to achieve in life and some never know. That’s the point, perhaps they are meant to purposely wander and absorb all that they can. These are the creative souls. People who look at life in wonderment. They are not lost because they were sent to this earth to purposely wander and experience and most importantly fully enjoy all that life has to offer.

Thank you universe for the message. I think I got it. Now I only need to figure out which meaning is the one for me. Maybe it’s all three.

Are you lost or are you wandering? Maybe the real issue here is that you need to stop right were you are and figure out what kind of wandering you are actually doing and why. Only then will you know for sure where you really are.