Rock on the Road

Hit a rock on the road, the impact was enough to pull over, get out and make an inspection.








The rock, "Yours is not to reason why, Yours is but to do and die". Yep, these familiar words made quite a noise as they crashed into my strong willed nature. To execute orders without knowing, the why, creates for me the auto response, no way! These words were used to exhort the reader to live a life rich, with meaning and purpose. The catch, God's involvement would be necessary. God's grace would be needed to get past the, why should I....... and provide intrinsic motivation to get beyond myself.

Why should I, not compromises by way of conformity to lesser goals.
Why should I, not attain riches by less than the highest morality.
Why should I, be persecuted for raising standards to greater heights.
Why should I, be misunderstood for following a higher authority.

The peace that comes in the wake of doing, does bring some satisfaction. Now older and closer to eternity, to hear the words "well done thou good and faithful servant" have become primary, providing great energy to keep going. This of course, all depends to whom is being pleased.

Being driven by self accommodation does provide moments of contentment. The results usually yield understanding by others but are empty without having value or permanent impact. Worse, sometimes this affliction, of self, is harmful to those we love most.

Being motivated by God's grace can sometimes cause internal conflict, so the wrestling match begins, Why should I...... Initial behavior can be misunderstood, but the lasting result, lives on, with eternal implications.

The call to abiding obedience in Christ requires blind, resolute, trust in His precepts. The point of choice becomes His Will or my will. "Yours is not to reason why, Yours is but to do and die".

The question, has this rock left its mark? Guess to some degree, those who know me can now answer but it will be plainly visible after I die.

It happened 36 years ago, an inch closer and well, lights out!

The sound of a strong wind, then the explosion, as the baseball hit just above my left eye near the temple.

Looking up surrounded by coaches, players, police, ice being applied, hearing let's get him to the hospital.

Like still frames of a slide show; inside a police car, lying on a gurney looking at bright lights, x-ray equipment, then finally full consciousness, waking up on a hospital bed the next day. Covered in sweat from the game, wondering how a hospital gown had replaced my baseball uniform.

Ecept for its significance, "one moment, the glory of athletic success, the next moment, lucky to be alive" the memory of the event itself lies dormant. After reading Heart of the Game by S. L. Price, the reality of my good fortune rose from the dormant state to become fresh, as if it had happened yesterday.

Always aware of its influence on my life's decisions, I am now energized with a renewed conviction to make the most of each day.

It's a Wonderful Life

Woke up this morning thinking, I still living in the same town a few miles from the house of my childhood. Unusual for a person who spends so much time thinking about future events. In the moment, not this guy, planning, forecasting, positioning, successful at it, most would say yes. A useful business trait, no doubt.

This morning was different, the lofty perch of the visionary felt, well less lofty, and a bit empty. Future thoughts gave way to past moments now lost, were talking, listening to the silence, type moments. Not planned events, but the often overlooked daily spontaneous moments that can bring joy and peace to the soul.

The epiphany, "Zuzu Bailey's rose petal", live in the present, in the now, in the moment. The challenge came from that inner voice in a whisper saying, nothing new, old stuff, boring....

Not this time, the breaks are on, turning onto that dusty old road, for me, the one less traveled.