It is the darkness that makes the candle bright

It is the darkness that makes the candle bright.

If we didn't have the dark, how would we discern the bright? If we never had failure, how would we experience success? If we never knew loss, how would we learn appreciation?

Making the Hard Decisions

I believe that there are a few consequential turning points in a person's life where major decisions are forced upon us. Sometimes we don't even know it is a major decision until afterward. Sometimes it is glaringly obvious if we decide to go one way, the other way will be lost forever.

When they come around, how does one know how to make the best decision? Will we allow fear to guide us? How about the folly of youth? Or are we just gun ho pedal-to-the-metal throwing caution to the wind? Will we walk forward with our minds and hearts engaged together or one leading, trampling over the others' voice? Will we take a spiritual stance? Or a staunch theological one?

It is a chess game. We can try to forecast the outcome, run the odds, accept input from others, and base our next move on our past. Sometimes it is as easy as listening to your instincts.

Crossroads can change a person's life forever. We can kick at the corners, scream at the sky, pound on our chests, and cry. We can relish the happiness of the path we picked. No matter, this is the outcome of what we chose. The path will eventually branch out again and when it does what will we do?

Will we be wiser or just mad that we are expected to plan our future again? Will we realize that sometimes shit happens no matter what we do? Fate. Destiny. Karma. All we control is ourselves.

You have done the best you could. Now go do greater.