The Fool's Journey

There he is, standing at the edge of the cliff, with his faithful dog dancing at his feet.  His face is turned upward.  He’s not paying attention to where he is going.  He is on a journey, but where will that journey take him?  Will he fall off that cliff?  Will he jump off that cliff?  Will he be pushed off that cliff? Whatever way he falls from the safety of the ground below his feet, how will he land—on his feet? Fallen and injured? No one knows for sure.  His destiny is in the balance.  If he consciously jumps, then perhaps he can control how and where he lands.  If he falls, then he must rely on sheer luck to save his life.  If he is pushed, one can only guess what forces pushed him over the edge.

And so, our destiny, our journey in life, is much like that of the fool.  Do we throw caution to the wind and take that leap, do we need to be pushed to make decisions, or do we stumble and fall and pick ourselves back up again to start over. Remaining in the safe confines of our own spun cocoon is not learning all we can in life.  We all need to fail, succeed, and be aware of ever changing events that will occur in our lifetime and shape who we are.

Of course, we can stay completely safe and not go close to the edge, but that is not what life is all about.  Life is full of chances and choices.  If we do not take advantage of these opportunities, then we are not living our lives to the fullest.  Nothing is guaranteed.  Safety and protection are not guaranteed.   

Whether we step, fall, or are pushed, it is the beginning of a new phase in life.  Make the most of the journey. It’s not always going to be easy, but it’s the experience of a lifetime!

Be the Fool—take those chances—do not be discouraged if you fail—walk to the edge of that cliff and take another chance—that’s what life is all about.