The Road So Far.... Proverbs 16:9

What a strange world we live in. You never know where the road is going to take you. At least I don't. I never have. It's definitely a strange road. Always. Even on the straight ways. I just told a friend this week, I have NEVER had more than one foot on the balance beam. Never. Don't get me wrong, I've tried to control it. All of it. A lot. But the "failures" have always derailed the delusion of control. But the "failures" have most likely saved my life and preserved me time in and time out. In spite of me. In spite of my desire to control the shape of the road. I'm still learning. Forever learning. But I have figured out a couple of things. Only hold on tightly to the things in life that are critical. God, family, and friends are just about the only thing to keep in your pack. Of course you have to carry yourself too so your footing is really important but that footing is really determined by what's in the pack. It's weird. The rest of it is temporary. Education, your job, a house, a political leader or movement, even religious "movements" fall into ash. At least at some time. But they fall eventually and may drag you with them if you are identifying yourself by them. Consequently I've kind of tried to hold these things loose in a free hand so that I can drop them if they start to throw me off the side of the mountain. It doesn't mean I don't hold onto them if they are good things but I also acknowledge they don't fit on my back. There isn't room and they will crush the things that are important if you pack them wrong. Hold them too tightly in hand and they will pull you off course and cause you to lose everything you are carrying along with you.