Run Often, Not on a Cajun

A small article I wrote for small newsletter. All is in good fun...enjoy!

I say this for your health. Your benefit. Heck, I’m sayin’ it for your safety. Take it from a boy who grew up in the deep south; who experienced all the folklore, mysteries and rumors the coast-land has to offer.

If doctors could prescribe advice, this would be one wisdom-pill that everyone would swallow. I’m goin’ to give you one reason why running often is good. If you live down south, you’re goin’ to eat good. Real good. I’m talkin’ put-some-food-on-your-forehead-your-tongue-will-slap-your-brains-out-tryin’-to-get-to-it good. Heh. I’m pullin’ up ma britches and wipin’ ma mouth just thankin’ ‘bout tha good stuff. Hold on... reeeeelin’ back to reality.

My whole point is this: eatin’ the southern foods will cause you to go runnin’ every day or having a body mass that’s a little bit more than you and the people you’re around (ha) are comfortable with. So, there’s the “Run often” part.

I shouldn’t even have to say this next part, but if you do go runnin’, make sure you don’t run on any cajuns. Cajuns are crazy. Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re fun as I’ll get out; they’re just crazy. They aren’t scared of heights; they eat boudin; they’ll wrestle alligators; snatch up opossums; fish at any moment; die for LSU and they’re ready to fight at the drop of a crawfish. You want them to be your friend. So, just think about what would happen if you ran on one. Nothing good.

What does this have to do with us, all the way in San Antonio? Well, the food here is good. Real good. And because of recent events that have affected the southern coast-lands, more and more people are moving this way. Which could translate to more and more Cajuns.
So, if I could tell you one thing, it would be...

That has made all the difference

He could have told me that all roads no longer led to Rome. I walked down one right into a yellow wood where it diverged. I would have been sorry that I could not travel both, but after following the one less traveled by, I realized why it was probably less traveled by, and I got my chance to travel the other. It would have made all the difference to just go with the well-worn way, but like most things these days, it seemed promising but went nowhere.

At the risk of sounding like someone who has no revelation, let me say that I sincerely intend to speak literally as to inspire your understanding, friend. You see, he could have told me that all roads no longer lead to Rome, but then what would I have done but gone nowhere until it was told to me which road actually did lead to Rome. Instead, I set out and followed each path, trail, highway, byway and road with the confidence that I was on my way to Rome.

Misguided confidence. Unrealistic optimism. Tender-footed, green, arrogant naivety.
OR
Inexhaustibly patient. Endless sense of adventure. Enjoying the journey, seasoned traveler, living life and learning to love it.

We went walked through deserts, jungles, cities, villages, by lakes, over mountains, through valleys, under bridges. I think we rolled a few times. Caught myself flying at one point. Or falling, it's hard to say.

We? Turns out he just wanted to walk together. Abba, Father. He never left me.