By Joseph J. Mazzella

When I was a boy there were no smart phones, computers were something you saw on Star Trek, and our television only got one channel clearly. Still, I was never bored. The fields, hills, and woodlands around my home were the perfect playground whose adventures were only limited by my imagination.

I can remember once hiking to a nearby lake and slowly walking around it. At the backside of it I was amazed to find an old, one lane, dirt road that I had never seen before. I immediately set out to travel it. It was full of potholes and muddy tire tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but exploring it still seemed like a fine adventure.

I walked on and on for what seemed like hours. I am sure my guardian angel was whispering in my ear to turn around and head back home but I was stubborn and even a bit stupid, so I walked on. The dirt road gave way to a gravel one and then a paved one, yet there was still neither a car nor a house in sight. My legs were getting tired. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew scared. I didn’t want to end up trapped on this road in the dark of night, but I was sure it would be dark before I could make my way back to the lake again.

I continued to walk on with the fear of growing inside of me. My heart was pounding and my legs were aching. I was almost in tears when I turned one last curve and saw something in the distance. It was a house that I recognized. My heart leapt up! I jumped up and down and laughed out loud. I knew the way home! It was still over a mile away but my legs felt like feathers and I hurried back to my house in no time. I walked in with a big smile on my face just in time for dinner. Then I ended my adventure with a good night’s sleep.

I remembered this recently when I saw a sign that said, “All roads lead home.” This is true. In this life all roads, no matter what their twists and turns, can lead us home again. They can lead us to our homes here on Earth. They can lead us to our homes in our hearts. They can lead us to our Home in Heaven. What is important, though, is how we travel them. Are we going to go forth in fear or are we going to go forth in faith? Are we going to take each step of selfishness or are we going to take each step in love? Are we going to make this life a terrible trip or are we going to make this life a joyful journey? The choice is ours.

May you always walk your path with love. May you always go forth with a smile on your face and God in your heart. May you always help your fellow travelers along the way. And may your roads always lead you home again.