Saturday, November 11, 2006

TRAVELING THROUGH

Some may not like the reasoning here, but journeys through life’s ups and downs, ins and outs, sorrows and joys, and adventures good or bad may take a lot of different modes of transport; call them instinctual drives, motivation, inspiration, threats or fears—planes, trains buses, cars, tanks or ox-carts. Who is doing the driving? At the risk of being merely pedantic, it would seem that the passenger usually just goes along for the ride.

So where is the thrill of being in control of ones fate, of blazing the trail, of first discovery, of losing and finding the way again? The latent “Wagon-train Scout” in most of us rebels at riding inside the Conestoga rig. The same question can be asked a little differently, however: What in us is doing the driving? Those gifted in the practice of honest introspection will often find emotion mostly to be the spur to our motion through life.

Wisdom may here seem like a kill-joy, but it says that when only “feelings” are in the driver’s seat the destination is most likely self defeat, damage or destruction. Emotions are very vital and important in our existence but must not be in charge of it. What is left to us then? The uncommon common sense, past experience and moral and spiritual values that God gave us to counter our rages, fears, and pleasure-bent impulses, and that is all—but that is quite enough. In short, we may enjoy all the best of life available to us—but not blindly.

2 comments:

ren powell said...

This is a nice post- lots to think about. But I'm not sure I agree with your conclusions. I don't know why it would be wrong to follow our emotions through life. Faith is closer to emotion than reason and that's why it's so beautiful. (I think)

Brad said...

In youth, I remember stating that I hated my emotions and that I felt like a ship, tossed at sea by my emotions.

The emotional context must only be a response to the journey, not the guide.

Now, in my 40's I find that my emotions are more in check and I have control over them. I still fly off in fits of silly-joy and blustery-bleh. But fewer times than before. Now, I enjoy my emotions and look forward to guiding them with sound choices and a great co-pilot.

thx
bg