∞
Along the road to Purpose there is a town called Comfortable. Hidden perfectly within the mountains, it sits just beyond the river and past the canyon. It’s a beautiful town — quiet, unassuming and kind. Most who live there never realized it would be their final destination.
The people of Comfortable were an unusual type. Although initially fueled by their dreams and guided by their hope, the journey led them to this beautiful place. And as the days passed by, it became harder and harder to leave.
∞
One day, I found myself on my own adventure — my own road to Purpose — when I saw a road sign that read:
Comfortable 5 Miles Ahead
It seemed a welcomed reprieve for my tired, discouraged soul. Besides, the journey had been tiresome and it felt like I deserved a break. The road leading in to Comfortable crested the top of the mountain and as I looked around, I couldn’t help but bask in the beauty. The wonder and excitement of the mountaintop gave me a thrill that any weary traveler would welcome.
Just as I reached the peak, a thought entered my mind, “I deserve comfortable.” The road had been hard, but this moment brought a new sense of accomplishment.
The downhill drive into town was exhilarating — the road was steeper than I had ever experienced. With the windows rolled down the rush of the air brought a rollercoaster-like sensation. The outline of the town below made me feel like I had finally arrived.
Upon arrival I noticed that the folks who live there were generally quiet, carrying out their days in a careless way. They weren’t unhappy, but there was an odd sense of consistency that ruled their days. There were moments of excitement and joy, but in the end, it all felt routine. I suppose it took them a long time to get here, so they deserved to rest and enjoy their simple little town.
The daily routine for the townsfolk seemed effortless. A morning stop at the coffee shop followed by mindless work in a job that wasn’t too challenging. Most evenings consisted of a social gathering with not-so-deep conversation washed down with a craft beer or their cocktail of choice. Of course they all laughed and smiles seemed commonplace, but as time wore on the streets became crowded with bland passer-byes and everyone was less inclined to speak. The exhilaration of the decent faded into mundane daily life.
In time, Comfortable became insignificant.
I grew tired of watching joyful faces fade into monotonous stares. And I started to realize how crowded the town had become. It was as if Comfortable had doubled in size overnight. Then, as quickly as it happened, it doubled again. One day, in the midst of my daily routine, I stopped and watched those around me in their daily grind. I missed the adventure, the journey, the climb. In that moment, I made a decision. It was time to leave Comfortable.
As I began my ascent, I noticed that the road was steeper than I remembered. So step in fact that my car was unable to reach the peak. What was a fantastic downhill journey in to Comfortable had become an uphill road that made it impossible to leave. Desperate to get out, I tried another route but the same fate awaited me. After traveling nearly every road in town, I realized that I couldn’t make it out. Comfortable wasn’t a destination, it was a prison.
I hurriedly began asking other townsfolk to see if anyone knew of a way out, but everyone avoided the conversation.
“Took us a long time to get here. Might as well enjoy it,” one man said.
“Could be a lot worse you know. You should be thankful,” another remarked.
“You want to leave?” Some would question.
Everyone was stuck in this town called Comfortable.
Reflections
The contents of this story came to me in a vision nearly twelve years ago. And while I will leave the interpretation up to each individual reader, I wanted to make a few remarks as they relate to my own perspective.
The more I live, the more I realize that comfortable is a curse. Like a picturesque paradise, it lures us in promising security and bliss. Comfortable is intoxicating. It leaves us drunk on its promises while robbing us of meaning. But the funny thing is, anyone who claims to be comfortable won’t tell you the truth. It’s an unreachable destination — a mythical place that only exists in our traitorous mind.
While Comfortable may seem inviting, it’s hopeless. I’ve been there in my own life and I promise to never return. I know the reasons why we get stuck in Comfortable, but those reasons are not rooted in Truth. It’s time that we get honest about our motives — and Comfortable should never be one of them.
But on the other hand, Peace is a real place. You see, Peace is what we really want. We just settle for Comfortable. So today, I want to be the guy that climbs his way out of Comfortable. I know it will be an uphill battle, so I’m looking for companions along the way.
Should you be up for the climb, Peace is waiting.
MH