Are Shortcuts Worth It?

Last month I took one of my day-long cycling adventures. I had not ventured on this particular route before so I looked at the map before I ventured out to determine the best roads for cycling. As I examined the map I noticed a route that I thought would result in reduced car traffic on the road and make the ride safer for me. I also noticed that the proposed route cut through some backcountry and resulted in what looked like a bit of a shortcut for one leg of the journey. With an anticipated 100km+ round trip cycling adventure, I didn’t mind cutting off a few kilometers along the way.

As I arrived at the point where the shortcut began, I joyfully turned off the main highway and began my trek. I felt somewhat relieved for turning off the main road because the car traffic was heavy. After only a few minutes of cycling on the backcountry road, lines of cars started to pass me. Car after car, after car after car. I realized the route had no less traffic than the main highway. I was to realize after 10km that the reason for the heavy car traffic was a ski resort that turned to a summer amusement park was attracting a lot of families on this beautiful Saturday.

Did you notice I mentioned ski resort??? Where there is a ski resort, there are hills. And as I approached this ski resort, the topography became more and more undulating. Said another way…the cycle became more and more of a challenge. A few of hills were among the steepest I had ever descended and ascended. The descents were thrilling, but the ascents were grueling! I carried on, however. Shortly after I passed the ski resort, the terrain levelled out and the next 10km were quite picturesque and pleasant to cycle. I eventually came back out on the main highway that I had left 25km ago, feeling a bit smug that I had cut off some time from my adventure. After 7 hours of cycling, I arrived back home.

I had enjoyed the adventure so much that I vowed to make the trip again. So a couple of weeks later, I ventured back to the same route. But this time, I decided not to take the ‘shortcut’ and stayed on the main highway for the entire trip. I was pleasantly surprised that the longer way around was a much more gentle ride, compared to the very undulating terrain the supposed shortcut had offered me a couple of weeks earlier. And this time the round trip took me an hour less!...even though I went a longer, overall distance! So…

Not only did the supposed shortcut result in a much more grueling and difficult cycle, it actually didn’t save me any time at all! As it turns out, it took me longer to get to where I wanted to go! I laughed at my foible and the symbolism in the experience.

Are shortcuts worth it? In my cycling adventure, the supposed shortcut wasn’t a shortcut at all! I expended more energy than the long way around and it didn’t save me any time. It actually took me longer!

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.