The Eternal Traveler- A Short Allegory

If God was a hitchhiker, would you pick him up?

The Eternal Traveler walked down the side of the wide highway, his worn shoes lightly tapping against the asphalt like the beat of a prayer. Cars zoomed past him, one after the other, as if they were trying to outrun something, though nothing seemed to be chasing them.

The Eternal Traveler didn’t care what kind of car picked him up, all he searched for was a willing car that would let him in. But he had been walking for ages upon ages.

The Eternal Traveler watched as the luxury red Porsche sped past him, its windows rolled up and the driver inside seemingly unconcerned with the world going on around her. She was on her way to buy a new wallet, one that was bigger then the old one that sat in the seat beside her. The woman didn’t seem interested in helping anyone else. For she had already been blessed with all kinds of wealth, so why should she help out someone who was obviously not as fortunate?

The Eternal Traveler continued on his journey down the side of the wide highway. He kept his eyes peeled for someone—anyone—who might be willing to give him a ride, but it seemed like everyone who passed by either ignored him or sped away faster. He sighed and kept walking.

A black Chevrolet pulled up alongside him and slowed down. The driver inside looked out the window and their eyes met—the traveler saw an expression of genuine concern in the man’s face.

The the driver rolled down the window and opened his mouth to speak. However, just as quickly as hope filled his heart, it was dashed away again when the man glanced at his watch and noticed the financial documents crammed into a tiny briefcase in the seat beside him. The man simply didn’t have time and so he sped back up again without saying another word as he drove past.

The Eternal Traveler trudged on, the sun beating down on his back like an unrelenting enemy. The highway twisted and turned ahead of him, seeming to stretch on forever.

Several cars sped past without noticing of the Eternal Traveler.

A woman in her late 30s saw the man walking, and pulled over to offer him a ride. She had picked up many travelers, although most didn’t last long. The passenger seat was always empty, nothing seemed to fill it. She swung the door open and the man gratefully sat down.

She glanced at the air conditioning, realizing he must be hot, but she’d had it running and was cold, so she left it off. They began to drive down the highway. Her stomach felt unsettled, she was bored with the long straight drive. After a few minutes, a sign caught her eye, a detour she found exciting, and so she parted ways with the Eternal Traveler

The man watched her go and he let out a long, labored sigh. Then he began to walk once again. His well worn shoes making a song as they squeaked to the beat of his search for a willing car.

A young lady, no older than 20, noticed the man. She wanted to help the man, but then she glanced at the brochures in the seat next to her and touched her stomach that was just beginning to bulge. She had too much going on in her own life and was afraid the man would judge her, so she drove past him.

The Eternal Traveler kept walking.

A guy in a beat up truck roared past the man. As he past he grabbed an empty can from the seat next to him and chucked it out the window. The blaring profane music combined with the foul stench of beer numbed him as he passed. He let out a shout of victory as the can hit the Eternal Traveler on the arm.

An older woman with a large and visible cross necklace dangling from her mirror shook her head as she watched the exchange. Her little white Honda however was perfectly pristine, and the man was covered in dust from his journey. She couldn’t let the man in either.

And so the Eternal Traveler kept on walking down the wide road. For no one was willing to let him in.

Would you?