As you get into town, all the lights are red. You have 10 lights to go through before reaching the other side of town. However, you remembered a short cut that saved you about 15 minutes.

At the stop light, you notice a woman in the car, to your right, putting on make-up.

In the rear view mirror, you see a guy shaving. Also, there is a couple, in the lane to your left, that are looking at a road map. Guess they are lost.

At the 5th light, you realize you are going to be late unless you can find that shortcut.

There are bumps and pot holes in the road. So, you have to slow down to about 15 miles per hour.

There is even a sink hole in the middle of the road. Now, you have to detour, then come back to the service road.

At the last red light, you know you have missed the short cut. Therefore, you start making a U-turn.

STOP!! Why are you turning around? The short cut, you say?

Well, you just can’t sit here, in the middle of the intersection. Go ahead and make the U-turn. Then, pull over to the right shoulder. We need to discuss this matter.

How do you know there is not an accident or even road construction on this short cut of yours? Haven’t you seen all there is to see on this short cut? Does this short cut take you back to the service road? NO. NO?

You say this short cut takes you about 10 miles closer to your job. This short cut may cost you more than just a few minutes of your time. I think you’d be better off making another U-turn and stay on the service road.

You grumble a little, then make another U-turn heading in the right direction.

There is a car going in and out of traffic, in a hurry. Guess he is trying to get ahead of the line.

You know that you have to stay on the service road to get to where you needed to go. But, as you begin entering another town, you start looking to the right ~ at the new buildings that are being constructed.

You decide to go shopping in your car.

Don’t forget to watch for the last on ramp sign for the Main highway.

You say, “No problem. There are many on-ramps to the Main highway.”

You keep looking to the right as you drive, passing one on-ramp after another.

A voice is telling you to take the next one, the next one, and so on … to look at the beautiful sites that you are missing. Two miles further down the road, you are still looking to the right and never see the sign that reads, “LAST RAMP TO MAIN HIGHWAY.” You are pre-occupied with other thing to look at.

Another mile down the road, you are still looking to the right. Then, for some reason, you look back to the front and slam on your brakes. You realize that you have driven to a Dead-End road. You cannot go left or right; not backwards and surely not forward. You look to your left, and see people passing you by (on the Main highway) while waving to you. You just sit there, with tears in your eyes.

You know that, on the Main highway, there is nothing but happiness. There’s no pain, no blindness, no cripples, no sorrows, and no goodbyes.

You were traveling on the main highway, some time ago, on your way to life ever after. But, you decided to get off and explore things on the service road. This time, you stayed a little longer than you should have.

There are two roads we can take through life. One is the Main highway. The other we will call a ‘Service’ road.

You will start your life on this Service road: a child, teenager, then adulthood. You will have fun doing different things, going different places, even to parties. You can do just about anything, while time keeps going bye.

Sometimes, there are those who never makes it to the Main highway. They find too many things to occupy their lives. They know they will never find things on the Main highway so important to do as finding things to do on the Service road.

On the Main highway, there are no stop signs or yield signs. There are no beer joints, gambling halls, or drugs. Life is cheerful on the Main highway. There will be bumps and pot holes, sometimes a detour or two along the way. But, there is life ever lasting.

Sometimes we do get lost and find ourselves on the Service road.

But remember, you have to watch for the last (on ramp) sign, or you may miss a new life at the end of the main highway.

© 1997 by Robert H. Gilbert, Jr. RGBLUEBOY@aol.com