To The Neighbors We Don't Know

Hey, it’s Tyler Head

I am slipping another opportunity into your inbox to kick off Friday with an invitation to slow down, breathe deep, and read a story.

A couple of questions for reflection:

Are you aware of where you are headed?

At what pace are you headed in that direction?

Who's headed that way with you?

Keep reading if you want to find out how they came to be in your inbox this morning.

This past Sunday, I woke up to a bike neatly parked in our front yard.

It's wild if you think about it better yet, if you wonder about it.

Who left it there?

Why there?

Why did they use the kickstand?

Where were they headed?

Where were they coming from?

What prompted them to park it this close to the house?

What prompted them to park it this far from the road?

Were they in a hurry?

Did they have a helmet?

If so, where’s it at?

If not, were they wearing a hat?

Our quaint little house faces a relatively busy road. Well, a road that is most busy between 7:30 and 9 am, then 4ish to 6 pm. You know, the standard times people are commuting.

Our road is an excellent cut-through street from Central Springfield to East Springfield.

Our road is really quite grand if you ask me. It's nestled in a sweet little neighborhood called Rountree. I can walk to my office, but hardly ever do. Because some days, I am convinced that I am in a hurry - but I am working on that, or it's being worked on in me. Who's to say?

Around the corner from my office is a taco shop. Across from our office is a local favorite called Cherrypicker. Further down the way is a cute little place that has the best maple cinnamon rolls ever. Only on Saturdays, though. That's neither here nor there, but I bet you can see the area a bit clearer now, so let's get back to the bike parked neatly in our front yard.

From the cut-through road to our house is about 25 or so yards. You enter our driveway, which makes a half circle, cutting our small front yard off from the main road. The half-circle driveway connects with our sidewalk, leading you to our front door. The bike you see above was to the left of the sidewalk. Parked neatly and purposefully - from the looks of it.

So I wondered some more.....

They couldn't have been in too much of a hurry; they brought it close to the house. They even used the kickstand. Also, they positioned the front of the bike towards the road as an invitation to adventure. An invite to walk out the front door, hop on and make a quick getaway.

Furthermore, the time of the stealthy bike-giver had to be after 11:30 pm and before 7:30ish am because our guard did not notify me of any outdoor activity.

Whoever parked their bike in our front yard was relatively smooth.

I once heard said that those who move through the night usually do so in the dark for one of two reasons. They are up to no good or have no good to be up to.

I don't know how that lands for you, but the latter half of that statement insinuates a lack of purpose, and that got me thinking a bit more.

I've come to believe that we are a people who desperately need purpose. As a matter of fact, I would see we if we don’t have it somewhere in our life - we are aching for it.

Some of us take longer to find it. Some of us mistake purpose for power. Some of us feel we haven’t found purpose, and it may be right in front of us. Some of us are still on the hunt. And still, maybe a few of us have found purpose.

One thing is true for me, and maybe all of us, we are spending much of our time in hopes of having and or finding purpose.

Mine is becoming a bit clearer as I press into it - one day at a time, often just a moment at a time.

Nevertheless, I like to imagine that this fellow night traveler, whom I don't know, left their bike neatly parked in my front yard because they were headed somewhere on purpose and needed to continue their travels on foot.

As a matter of fact, as I type this out, the bike has since left its resting place on our fence. Somewhere in the still of the night, it vanished again. I like to think it was by the same fellow traveler who parked it there earlier this week. Either way, I hope they make it safely to wherever they may be headed.

Much like the story's fellow night traveler, I am headed somewhere. As I am sure, you are too.

Are you aware of where you are headed?

If so, good on you. I hope this story reminds you that sometimes we have to drop our bikes off in order to slow down a bit. and that’s okay - there’s a false sense of urgency pulling us in all directions.

If not, good on you. Keep asking the question.

At what pace are you headed in that direction?

Are you still on your bike? Walking? Or have you found yourself scurrying around in a car like I sometimes do…..when the places I most frequent are within 4 blocks?

Who's headed that way with you?

Sometimes it's nice to look over and take inventory. Then smile and give ‘em a wave. Or leave your bike in their front yard for safekeeping.

Some people may be riding shotgun, some may be cruising alongside you on their bikes, and some may be walking in a similar direction.

No matter the medium of going in a direction or the pace at which you are going - I've found much life in going somewhere with others.

May you be encouraged that in the being with and being bed with, pace and transportation method may vary - but the company makes the journey.

Talk again soon.

Thanks for being you!