A map to follow

Bill D. Hallsted

"Hey, Augie, do you know how to get to Gloomsend?"

Augie looked at his friend, Bert. "No, I don't. It'd sure be a great place to get to, though, wouldn't it?"

Bert nodded. "Yeah. We have to figure out how to get there. There has to be a way."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"Well, no. What we really need is a map."

"Yeah, but I don't have any idea where to find one. Do they make maps showing how to get to Gloomsend?"

"Oh, I'm sure they must. Come to think of it, I've never seen one, though."

"Neither have I. I know! Let's make one ourselves."

Bert cast a strange look at his friend. "Be serious, Augie. I really want to get to Gloomsend. I need a real map."

Augie looked slightly offended. "Hey, I can make a real map. I have a program in my computer that can draw. I can make a map, and draw in any roads I want. It can make the different types of road different colours, just like other maps. In fact, I bet I can make the best map you ever saw in your life."

Bert looked dubious, but he finally said, "Well, okay. You go ahead and make the map, but give it a lot of thought. Make us a really good map. Then we'll use it to find our way to Gloomsend."

Augie worked for weeks on the map. When it was finished, it was a masterpiece. It showed mountain ranges, rivers, roads, cities, lakes and oceans. It clearly marked several different ways to reach Gloomsend. In one corner Augie placed a seal with the words, "Official map of Gloomsend travellers".

Now Bert and Augie are setting out to journey to Gloomsend, using the map they have made. Will they get there?

That's not as dumb as it sounds. Well, yes it is.

Yet the world is filled with people who are following a map they map we follow, and how carefully we follow it. Let's give studying and following that map the priority they deserve.

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