They are machines of contradiction; mechanically beautiful beasts made of fixed vehicles with deep, piercing whistles, and steadfast engines that churn upon steel courses, tamed like untamable lions as they carry hordes of time-driven men and women to their ever-divergent stations of life; men and women who rush from here to there in the dizzying pursuit of real purpose.
Yet, those men and women who esteem themselves often too busy to be busy, find respite in the train, in its pacifying purr, the melody of its metal hard at work. The business man sits in his finely pressed suit reading the paper beside the city bum who beats calmly upon his drum, both men equally lost in an underground world of grimy enchantment; a world of constant, purposeful motion. A world in transit, from station to station.
The train mesmerizes; subdues and calms them, for it, and all that relates to it, epitomizes the essence of their respective lives. Both men, wild beasts tamed to travel the way of the rail. To roll forward, by fate and free will, from station to station. Empowered to choose whether or not to board a particular train; yet once having decided to board, destined to travel a particular path, until of course, the train halts, and the doors open. And at the next stop, once again, they are posed with a question - whether to carry onward, or change course.
Or, perhaps, if the traveling men can’t decide where their course shall lead, they may opt for an extended break from the train to explore and experience the light of a different world, a settled world, one not in constant transit.
But in time, both men will return to the rails to continue onward in their life journey, for that is man's very purpose. He must board each train equipped and enriched by all his life's experiences.
So with his evolved knowledge of self, the man will likely share his train. He will carry with him some friends from past days of travel, while leaving enough space to make new friends along the way. He will share his home and way of life aboard the train. He will embrace each moment in the knowledge that he and his fellow travelers will very likely not ride off together forever into the proverbial sunset.
His train will continually stop, old friends will depart, and new friends will board. The journey will be given significance by the presence of others, but in the end, man's journey is one traveled, ultimately by himself. And it is on him alone to make his journey, his life in transit count.
His train will continually stop, old friends will depart, and new friends will board. The journey will be given significance by the presence of others, but in the end, man's journey is one traveled, ultimately by himself. And it is on him alone to make his journey, his life in transit count.
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