Quote

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”

- Jean de la Fontaine

This quote struck me not because of any particular "destiny" that I myself am trying to avoid, but it does help reflect on the importance of conscious choices that we make. It reminds of times when I was trying to avoid certain people or situations in general, yet I would ultimately come face to face them. I recall a certain man who was also trying to dodge any chance of confrontation with me, only to repeatedly turn up in the same places that I would be. I must say, watching him squirm did make me smile inwardly with content, satisfied that he was indeed being forced to own up to his part of the relationship. I did care about him though, so I really believed that having to face our situation was important for both of us.

I read somewhere this week, every lie we tell builds an alternate reality that we are forced to live in. Over time, and I know this from experience, that alternate world can become very destabilizing. So this quote becomes about honesty, about being true to the path we have traveled and the people we have affected so that we can peacefully proceed on the road ahead of us. It may lead us to unimagined places, but we can be sure that full acknowledgment of our previous deeds, good or bad, will generate less unwelcome surprises in the future.

The freedom that comes from atonement with the past gratifies your present self, creating hope and joyful anticipation for the future.

A person left a comment on a photo taken two years ago of a facebook friend, gazing out into the sunset, about how at that time, she had no idea how her life was about to change. This was right before she met her future husband, to whom she was recently married. They seem completely made for each other.

The friend's remark touched me. Although this scenario is not unlikely for someone my age, that comment helps us to remember to be grateful for the chain of events that brought us to our current reality. Remembering what our lives were like before these pivotal events helps usher in a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation for life.

So what I am saying is that we never really know what God has in store for us right around the corner. But it is our responsibility to be fully prepared to embrace it. I mean hey, it's in our own best interest, right?