September/October Newsletter

September 9, 2008 by becky.

 I sincerely hope that all of you in different parts of the country came through all the weather disturbances this year. There were fires out west, floods along the Mississippi and hurricanes in our neck of the woods. As we cleaned the storm debris out of our yard from Faye, I couldn’t help but think of several friends going through storms of their own— various types of difficulties and life changes. 

 Something Forest Gump said in the closing moments of the movie comes to mind. He’s talking to his beloved Jenny as he stands over her gravesite.“Was Mama right or Lt. Dan?” he asked. “Do we each have a destiny or do we just float, like a feather on a breeze? I think it’s both—both things happening at the same time.

”What is destiny, after all? How do we find it? How do we hold on to it? We have our course somewhat set. Then something comes along to interrupt our plans and signal that it’s time to slowdown and maybe take a detour. That “feather on a breeze” suggests that unexpected change will delay or divert our destiny. In the movie, Forrest became a millionaire when a hurricane hit the Gulf Coast and the Bubba Gump was the only shrimp boat that was not destroyed. A storm brought about the fulfillment of his destiny.

For my friends, change is painful and disruptive.  But sometimes it can slow us down long enough for us to reevaluate our direction. We may then have the courage to correct our course and choose the path that leads to our true destiny.

 I’ve had friends who held onto jobs they disliked in companies that were going nowhere. One of them once said of her workplace, “I felt like I was polishing brass on the Titanic.” A mother eagle teaches her babies to fly by making the nest uncomfortable. Is your nest uncomfortable?? What are you going to do about it?

Well, I’m glad we’ve had this little talk. I get carried away sometimes. I never meant to probe the meaning of life with the gospel according to Forest Gump. But I get excited and I still believe in miracles.  I get to see people finally fulfilling their dreams. Yes, even in a bad economy, anything is possible .And it may be true that, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Nevertheless, in my opinion, life is still 90% delicious, full of opportunity, wonder and magic. So now, if you will join me in donning some rose colored glasses, click your heels three times and wish with me upon a star—maybe, just maybe you’ll listen to your heart, leap out of that nest and fly. 

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