Article September 14, 2015 Issue

A lesson in spiritual alertness

Deborah Peck

One of my favorite states to visit in the United States is Vermont. I love skiing the majestic snow-covered mountains in the winter and hiking the verdant canopied trails in the summer. One thing that I have always relished is the purity and pristine nature of the Vermont landscape. One day, while driving several hours into the heart of Vermont ski country and enjoying the beautiful vistas, I realized what was missing from my highway view: billboards!

I grew up in a busy city where billboards were plentiful. They dotted the roadside with all kinds of catchy slogans and colorful pictures of products to buy and enjoy. More recently I have noticed that electronic billboards dot our state highways, flashing animated advertisements as well as public service announcements to drivers.

While much that is being advertised on billboards is good and helpful, years ago as a university student I discovered a darker side to them, a discovery that prompted a valuable spiritual lesson. One fall day while driving to school, I was stalled in traffic and found myself a captive audience to a collection of billboards alongside the road that were vying for my attention. One in particular struck me. It pictured several smiling young adults playing catch with a beach ball in the sand near the ocean.

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