Milestones

January 31

I am thankful for milestones, which give us checkpoints by which we can guage our future goals. They offer us more easily obtainable sub-goals on the path to achieving our long range goals. Milestones enable us to break down the whole into more manageable chunks. More than two thousand years ago, the first milestones were stone obelisks along the Roman Empire's Appian Way. The modern day American version of milestones are mile markers posted alongside roads. 

Today marks the completion of the first month of my Photo of the Day project. This goal, along with the supportive comments friends and readers have given me, will keep me fueled as I move toward the next milestone. Thank you everybody!

I envisioned this photo well before I took it and had it all planned out in more detail than usual: go to mile marker 1 on I-12 (which fortunately is not far from my house) in the pre-dawn hours, light the sign briefly with a flash but leave the camera shutter open long enough to blur the tail lights of the cars as they whizzed by. My best plans, however, never even considered the fog that we had this past Saturday at 5 am when I went to take the photo. After saying a few prayers concerning my safety as I stood alongside the onrushing cars oblivious to my plight, I was amazed at what presented as a far better scene than I could have planned. As the cars disappeared into the distance, the fog added to the symbolism that our long term goals may not be readily visible; however, well placed milestones work to get us there step by step. Thank you Lord for providing me with such a glorious foggy morning opportunity and for preventing those cars from slamming into me!

milestone

i asked the Lord

for protection and safety

in the quest

that had been assigned of me

every detail mapped out

my plans carefully laid

but the surprise He held

and offered to me this day

was well beyond the best laid plans

i could have possibly made

as i watched everything disappear into grey

i gave a prayer of thanksgiving

for His supervision and blessings

and the ultimate gift of living.

© rt tulley