My wife and I both love to travel, and we will inevitably take pictures as mementoes. With photos as our proof, we can tell others where we have been.
A few months ago, we went to Custer State Park, an awesome state park in South Dakota. We came upon a very narrow tunnel, the Needles Eye Tunnel that was carved out of the stone mountain, with only enough space for a tour bus to pass through. According to the online information, there is a boulder nearby that looks like the eye of a needle. We pulled over to the side of the road and looked around, searching for the odd-shaped rock. After making a few rounds, we didn’t find it. I was a bit puzzled and went back to our car in disappointment. Just then, I sighted a sign with a photo of the needle eye rock. I looked up. Right above me was a huge rock shaped like a needle eye. Immediately I took a few pictures, feeling very satisfied.
After returning home, I sorted through the photos and also retrieved old pictures from our previous trips. Lo and behold, I found that we actually visited that same place some 30 years ago and even took several pictures of the same needle eye rock. The experience brought mixed feelings to my heart. How did those previous images disappear from my mind? Until I saw the photos, I thought that I had never been there before.
One explanation is that when I was young, I wanted to go to as many places as possible in a short period of time. There was no Internet at that time. We couldn’t collect information before we went. When I arrived at a scenic spot, I quickly shot a few pictures and told myself, “Time for the next attraction. You can always look at the pictures later.” I didn’t have time to appreciate the scenery in my leisure. Thus, I couldn’t remember a thing.
To be honest, our enjoyment from travel shouldn’t be about taking pictures and proving to others that we have been there. Other people may not be interested in our photos anyway. The important aspect of travel is to experience the present moment, take time to enjoy the scenery with your loved ones. By doing so, even if you forget it later, there’s no regret.
(Ken, retired pastor. Ken served in 3 different churches from 1987-2020.)
