Sometimes a bend in the road is just a bend in the road. However, you'd be surprised at what the simple act of rounding a corner can sometimes reveal. Besançon, the city where I currently reside, is an extremely old settlement, and many of the more aged buildings in the city centre have large doors with high archways that lead to private courtyards which one would never notice from the street. Now, admittedly some of these courtyards are extremely boring to look at, if not outright gloomy and depressing, but walking into many of them, one is greeted by charming and unexpectedly beautiful interiors. to dreamers and souls given to flights of fancy, like myself, many of these call to mind tales of hidden realms and far off,magical kingdoms like in Narnia and the Secret Garden. But even the most sober-minded persons couldn't resist the quaintness, history and old-world flavour that is hangs in the air.
Life is full of these types of experiences. If our journey were a road, it certainly would not be a straight one- well at least that has been my experience so far. At times turning round those bends can be terrifying, at others we can barely wait to swing round the corner if it means getting out of nightmarish circumstances. I admit that I am generally a cautious individual who prefers to think about things- often long in advance- weighing and comparing the various options before committing to any one choice. When confronted with a turn in the road, I sometimes hesitate at times nearly to the point of paralysis.
But what I've come to learn over the years is that there comes a point where you have thought enough, and no amount of extra study or analysis will make the information you have any more precise. At this point, you just have to take the plunge. And the longer you wait once you've got to that point, the harder it gets to make that move. And, if you're not careful, you begin to atrophy because we were not meant to live static lives.
For good or ill; whether there are thunder clouds black and heavy with rain or brilliant sunshine waiting for you, choose to make a choice. You can either walk over to whatever is ahead or have it slam into you at unawares. So even though your legs may be trembling to the point where you can barely stand, take a deep breathe, steel your nerve, take that first step trusting that inertia exists for a reason and if you apply the force needed to get moving, God will help you build the momentum you need to keep going forward.
