In the course of an interview, an individual offered a bit a wisdom that caused me to pause. The statement was “I want to lock you in, for the good times as well as for the times that are anything but. Things are going well at the moment. There will be days, even weeks ahead, where you will not enjoy working here. That is when I will need you the most.”
Life is never an unending smooth road. It has metaphoric curves, twists, and hills. It has bumps, rough edges, and category 3 potholes. At best, we have the opportunity to respond to the uncertainty of what lies ahead. The shape of the road is never under our control.
When I am on a motorcycle, I rarely worry about why the road is what it is. I have the freedom to choose a different road. When I am riding, the question is not about why. It is all about my response. The same applies to the other drivers. Some are crazy. Others are blind. Many are careless. Whatever they are, it is not about me. I am faced with the question of response. How will I respond to what they are doing? How will I act anticipating what they might do?
My daily ride on the Yamaha to the office is short, sweet, and in the moment. The journey has its bumps. You never know what is going to happen. I am reminded that going with the flow is more important than being right. It is also important to let others do their thing while choosing my own.
Everything circles back to the day ahead. With the morning light, “I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we’re going to shipwreck on some island or other.” (Acts 27.26) It may not be today, but at sometime bad things will happen. Being aware is an invitation to respond with compassion and understanding. It is an invitation to more. It is an opportunity to be part of a community reaching out to make a difference.
