Have you ever been to a corn maze? Recently, my family and I went to a big corn maze, called Tom's Maze, in Germantown, Ohio. The maze was divided into 12 numbered sections, and a different colored ribbon marked each section. There was a path around the outside, marked by another color, that led you all the way out from any section you were in. Hidden inside each section of the maze, was a mailbox. Inside the mailbox was a piece of the big map. Once you had all the pieces, you had a completed map. As we walked through the maze, I could not help but think how our lives were much like the corn maze …

At start of the maze, we had nothing. We did not now which direction to go, or where the paths might lead us. The children were close by our sides. We chose a direction, and began to follow the path as it wound around the field. Every little bit along the way, there was a turn. We had to make a choice as to which way we were going to go. At times, it was difficult to stay within the colored sections. Sometimes, we wanted to go back through the previous parts, and sometimes, we wanted to skip ahead to the next piece of the maze. We were always looking for the mailboxes, which were hidden in amongst the rows. Once we found it, and affixed our map piece to the whole, part of the maze became a bit clearer. It helped us work our way to the next section. In the center of the maze, we found an observation bridge. From its highest point, we could see the entire maze – where we started, where we had been, and where we were going. As we went along, the children took the lead. Each section was different from the last, yet, somehow familiar. All in all, we were able to complete our task. After about an hour and a half, we emerged from the maze, having discovered all of its secrets – tired, but exhilarated, and none the worse for wear.

Isn’t this, so very much like life? We start out new. We have no experience, and we follow along with our parents. As time goes on, we begin to make our own choices, yet still not knowing how our lives are going to turn out. We go through, following a path, find some answers, and begin to put the pieces together. Each new thing we learn is like a piece of the larger map, each new turn, a decision to be made. We begin to take the lead.

Much like the bridge, there comes a time when you can see things ever so much more clearly than before. You can look back, and reflect on what you have done in your life. You have some experience, to help you to see where you might go next, and how it all might conclude.

There are the times when we wish we were younger again, to go back, and find a different way through. Still, there are the times when we want nothing more than to skip ahead, to not make those turns, even if the puzzle remains unsolved.

Some of us chose an easier path. We simply walk around all obstacles, making no choices, and ending up, inevitably, at the end of the journey, having gained nothing at all.

Some of us find our way easily. Somehow, an internal compass shows the way to go. The correct turn seems simple, and the maze is solved with good speed, and with pieces intact.

But, for most of us, we will wind our way in and out of the paths of our lives, making mistaken turns along the way. We will walk the same paths more than once, and get lost within the maze. We will make the poor choices along with the good, and we will keep going. As we travel through the sections, and gain pieces to the puzzle, we will learn. We will try and find the answers, and make choices based on the information we have. It may take us longer, and we may be a bit more worn, but we will make it.

In the end, we will reach the end just as everyone else did. We will be victorious, yes. But maybe, we will be a bit fuller, and maybe, a bit wiser for the journey.

Stories

How many ways can you think of to tell a story? Reading a book out loud? Reading to your self? Watching a movie? How about on the radio, and even pod-casts? Our daily lives are inundated with media, and information in more forms than ever before. People are finding more and more ever creative ways of telling stories. Long ago, stories were shared verbally. Stories were shared each evening, as the entire village gathered around the fire.

Recently, there has been amazing coverage concerning the story of the passing of Lisa Moore. If you do not already know, Lisa is a character in the comic strip “Funky Winkerbean” by Tom Batiuk. Lisa had been battling Cancer, and lost the fight on October 4th, 2007. This story, beautifully expressed by the artistry of Mr. Batiuk, played out fully in the daily comic strip. This story has touched millions of lives. I have followed it closely myself, and have been very impressed by the coverage it has received. This fictional account of one woman’s battle with Cancer, and the lives she touched, has brought the topic of Cancer to a possibly previously un-reached audience.

Last week, National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” interviewed Tom Batiuk. It was very interesting. People from all over called in, and e-mailed thoughts and comments. Most of the people thanked Mr. Batiuk for his story. Thanked him for giving them a way to relate, to understand, or to deal with their own losses. Some, were not so favorable. There were some people who said they thought the “funnies” should be funny. That it was not the place to be serious, and discuss real life, important matters. I disagree.

Comics. What a wonderful medium! Using the comics, millions of people can be reached every single day. Important subjects or anything you want to talk about can be presented. An interest in all kinds of topics can be discovered, and people can be inspired to learn more. This is a gateway to literacy. They allow you to reading a story, every day, just a little bit at a time. With a comic strip, you can inspire people to read – to themselves, to their children, to their classes.

“Funky Winkerbean” is not the only strip that has braved this frontier. Lynn Johnston has done it with “For Better or Worse”; we have read about teachers with disabilities, older mother pregnancy, and stroke. Doonesbury, by G.B. Trudeau, has talked about addiction, marriage, and war.

With comic strips such as “Funky Winkerbean”, we can watch the characters grow and change; just as we ourselves are growing and changing. It is not static, but becomes almost a living thing. We become invested in the characters lives, and want to know what is going to happen to them next. They almost become real, become people we know and care about, become friends.

If you are among those who believe the funnies should be funny, you can choose to read strips that stay “safe”. Garfield will continue to eat lasagna, and drive Odie insane. Hagar will continue to drink, Beetle will still run away from Sarge, and Marvin’s biggest decision will be that of white vs. chocolate milk.

As for the rest of us, thanks to artists like Tom Batiuk, we will continue to follow the lives of our newspaper friends. We will invest in literacy though the sharing of their stories. They will remain in our lives through the gift of words and images. We will read their stories, and share them with others.

Take a moment to think about all that this medium can offer. Take a chance. There are stories yet to be told. Open up the paper, and join us ‘round the fire.