October 25 25 Newsletter | Take the Back Roads

 This newsletter was originally sent on October 25, 2025

Each month, I share new essays, books, and stories from the road.

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Welcome, Friends, to the First Take the Back Roads Newsletter! Every road I’ve ever taken has led to another story. Sometimes it’s a winding country road that ends at a quiet cemetery or a small museum. Other times, it’s a road paved in pages, the books that have shaped my “Bucket List Book Adventure.” And sometimes those roads lead to extraordinary people —men and women whose courage defines what it means to serve. This newsletter is a bit of all those journeys. Each week (I hope), I’ll share where the back roads have taken me, what I’ve been reading, and whose stories have inspired me,  from the heroes of Everyday Patriot to the great works of Rite of Fancy. And because I always carry a camera, you’ll also find a photograph from Take the Back Roads Studio —a moment captured along the way —now available as a print in the shop. The goal is simple: to celebrate wonder,  whether found in a winding lane, a dog-eared page, or the quiet strength of a life well lived. So, come along for the ride. Let’s see where the next back road leads. a.d. elliott - Take the Back Roads

This Week from Take the Back Roads

Why I Take the Back Roads (from TakeTheBackRoads.com) Every now and then, someone asks me why I choose the slow way — the scenic detours, the winding roads, the long way home. The truth is, the “Take the Back Roads” philosophy began decades ago with a simple question: If heaven’s guaranteed, why rush? Life isn’t meant to be a race to the finish line. It’s an invitation — to work in the vineyard, to love deeply, to explore curiously, and to find beauty in the quiet corners of creation. I take the back roads because I don’t want to miss the miracles between the miles. The road itself is the reward. → Read the full reflection on TakeTheBackRoads.com

This Week from the Bucket List Book Adventure

From the Bucket List Book Adventure – Confucius and the Analects (Book #463 from Rite of Fancy) This month’s stop on the Bucket List Book Adventure took me all the way to ancient China — to the thoughtful world of Confucius and his timeless work, The Analects. Written over 2,500 years ago, The Analects gathers the sayings and reflections of one of history’s greatest teachers. Confucius believed that true virtue wasn’t found in titles or wealth but in living with integrity, wisdom, and kindness. His “Golden Rule” — “Do not do to others what you would not like yourself” — still shines as brightly today as it did in 551 BC. What fascinated me most was how universal his wisdom feels. Reading The Analects reminded me of both Socrates and Marcus Aurelius, all three exploring what it means to live justly and thoughtfully. And like St. Ignatius, Confucius also recommended nightly self-examination, proof that reflection has always been humanity’s best teacher. If you’ve ever wondered where philosophy and faith meet everyday life, this little book is a beautiful place to start. → Read the full review on RiteOfFancy.com

From Everyday Patriot A Fun Read From Rite Of Fancy

From the  Take the Back Roads Shop

There’s something about sunset light on still water that quiets the world. This photograph, “Loch Lomond at Sunset,” was taken during an autumn evening when the sky slipped from gold to indigo, and the reflection turned the loch into a perfect mirror. Photograph by  a.d. elliott – available at shop.takethebackroads.com › products › loch-lomond-sunset-jan-2020

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