Orienteering is where a group learns how to use a compass and a map in order to find their way. When I have a chance to include orienteering in a set of activities for a retreat, I don’t hesitate. The metaphor of the compass, the map and finding one’s way through life is just too powerful. It is also a skill that is seems archaic and old world. It reminds me of threshing demonstrations at small town fairs. Our modern world with its marked streets, GPS devices and Google Earth has given most people the impression that they know exactly where they are. If they don’t, it is simple to find their way again.
But, that is another discussion . . .
One part of orienteering is to establish your stride length in relation to metres or kilometres or another standard measurement that your map uses. Knowing the direction to go is only part of the skill. Walking the right distance is equally important. Several different tasks of various lengths give the group members a chance to find his own unique number of strides to the kilometre. This usually is just wandering back and forth between pylons. The test for this task is where it gets interesting.
From the top of a hill a flag can see on the top of the next one. The instructor says, “Tell me how far that flag is away”. Everyone heads out trying to concentrate on making sure their stride is natural and counting. They recheck on the walk back to give their answers.
And most get the wrong distance.
The instructor lets the group quiet down from their concerns and certainties that they did it right. Then he points out what is so obvious everyone misses it. “Why did you follow that path to the side? That made you walk off to the left. I wanted to know the distance directly to the flag.” Some people understand right away. Others still do not understand. They are certain they didn’t take a path. But he is right. An old vehicle path wanders just near enough the flag. Walking through the tall grass is hard and naturally most people just stepped over where it was easier. It is not far off of the goal. It is just not the right way to go.
And now a few more people understand that this is just more than orienteering. We all do it too often. We have a goal, a resolution, a commandment. On our way there we find a way to do things that appears to be the right way even though we have a sense it is not quite what was asked. It is unconscious. That is the danger. On that day was another lesson on awareness. Awareness not of failure, but of thinking I’m doing things right only to be distracted by the easy path.
