Another step . . .

In honor of the recent incredible feat of walking across Niagara Falls, I was pondering the tight rope.

Life is like walking a tight rope.

It seems that at the very beginning, the rope is tiny, fragile, and insecure. As we grow, develop, and learn; the rope thickens and becomes more stable. It is supported by many friends and lots of family. As life surges ahead, we widen our rope to enable our children to walk beside us. Although their ropes are new and delicate, we use our stable and sturdy foundations to ensure their tethers become thick and strong. It would also seem that as we focus on our families, the ropes that bound us to family and friends has strayed and diverted. And as our children move on, we begin to see that our once-formidable rope becomes thin again. The family binds will sometimes become brittle with battles or break with illness and death. And as we continue our perilous journey our wires again become singular and capricious. Where we once walked with great groups and massive mobs, we are once again balanced by ourselves, alone and unsteady.

Know this . . . just like the amazing Wallenda . . . there will ALWAYS be hoards awaiting you. Those that have gone on frail wires before you. They will meet you and walk with you those few final steps of your journey. And they will assure you that you were never alone. They were always tied to you. They stood beside you for balance. They strolled beneath you for support. They cheered you from above with wings you didn't know you had. And they have waited for you in eager anticipation of your momentous journey's completion. Just take another step. And then another. You simply have to walk on in faith.

Or so I choose to believe . . .