Building New Roads

As anyone that knows me would tell you, I love the open road. I seek adventure, find beauty in nature, and frequently photograph it. For me, it is one of the great joys of living in this world.

Recently, I’m feeling a bit trapped at home as the city began a road resurfacing project in my neighborhood. Major problems were found with the foundation. Instead of resurfacing the road as was planned, the road must be completely rebuilt. The work that should have wrapped up a few weeks ago will now take more time.

My ‘open road’ is being shut down by the ‘building of a new road’ in front of my house. Anyone experiencing wordnesia yet?

“Road” is a powerful metaphor that can represent many different things. “All roads lead to Rome”, “Down the road”, “Road to nowhere”, “Middle of the road”, “Rocky road”, “On the road to recovery”, and the list goes on and on. I’m sure you can think of many more yourself.

This article focuses on the roads we choose in life but asks the question, “How well do we look for the signs along the way?”

Roads of the Past

As with most of us that have lived a fair bit, there are ups and downs, good and bad, sad and happy times. But if you look back on any road you took, did you look for the signs? Meaning, if you had to go back and do it again, were there signs you saw about the road you were about to take?

In my mid-teens, I came to believe in the existence of God, specifically that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins. As a result, I took a road that was unexpected by my family and friends. I didn’t walk around preaching about God. I didn’t go to seminary school. I quite frankly was lost in my path of life.

In the late 80s and into the mid-90s, I found myself living and working in Yosemite National Park. I found a place I loved, a place to this day that is the home of my heart. While there, I witnessed the power of God in his creation. I learned that he loves all of us and is with us every moment through the Spirit if we simply take the time to seek.

My foundation for life was set in Yosemite, with God being that foundation. If my life is a house built upon that foundation, it’s clear that parts of the house need fixing or replacing from time to time. Sometimes unexpected damage occurs, like when the actual kitchen needed a complete overhaul. But for the most part, the house is strong and stands without crumbling because it’s built on a solid foundation.

Roads with Signs – Literally

Driving a car down the highway, we look for the signs to ensure we stay on the right road. If we don’t pay attention, we may become lost. If we give heed to the signs, we remain on the right path.

In the late ’90s, after leaving Yosemite, I worked for a research company and was promoted to a role that required me to move about an hour and a half north. It was exciting but also a bit terrifying, as it took me away from my family.

While searching for an affordable place to live, I found a small house for rent in Napa, California. It was an old, tiny 625-square-foot home, but it had a great location, reasonable rent, and a good vibe.

I decided to drive out and take a look. To get there, I took highway 121, turned right on 1st street, passed Nielsen Avenue, with the next street being Maxwell Avenue, where the home was located. Easy directions.

At a crossroad in life, here were my signs. The company I worked for was Nielsen. My last name is Maxwell. I moved in soon thereafter.

Unexpected Roads

As you grow older, you gain experience. That new hit movie? Seen it 20 years ago, just with some new twists. All the brilliant minds that forecast a future that often doesn’t come true? They’ll keep forecasting. There’s nothing new under the sun.

Life, nonetheless, will teach you new lessons by leading you down unexpected roads.

In the past few years, I’ve noticed my reactions to significant moments have changed for the better. These moments altered the road I traveled, each unique. But they seemed to come one after another, culminating in a major event this past January. I started questioning what new lesson I was supposed to learn. I found myself on a road I didn’t particularly care for, but there I was. It wasn’t a road I chose.

Then I started seeing the signs. We make choices about the roads we travel for whatever reason we may. Some seek guidance from God, while others simply choose a path. Sometimes we find ourselves on a road without choosing it at all.

In the late 90s, I had to drive past Nielsen Avenue to reach Maxwell Avenue. Today, a new road is being built in the front of my house. While it is taking much longer than anticipated to complete due to a poor foundation, I know God is at work, showing me good things are on their way.

Photography and the Roads We Choose

How much does this tie into Photography? Not a heck of a lot. But as a landscape photographer, I am on the road traveling thousands of miles each year. I love visiting natural areas that I’ve never been, marveling at the beauty, and creating landscape photo compositions. I enjoy driving through small towns in Texas, where others might see dilapidated buildings, I use a bit of imagination to envision what these towns looked like back in the day. These are the roads I freely choose, and they bring me great joy.

The roads of life we take, whether chosen or not, good or bad, shape who we are. For those who believe, God is with us and will show us the path if we seek the answers.

As I reflect on all the roads I’ve traveled, most have turned out for the good. Some could have been better, but I made the best choices I could each time. As for unexpected roads, well, those aren’t really choices. But it is clear to me that God is at work building a new road. So I ask you, are you looking for the signs along the roads you choose?

By Tim Maxwell