Decisions

Way back in the late 60’s (the 1960’s) there was a song by John Hartford, “I Would Not Be Here” that always spoke to me about the spontaneity of life. The song title extends to “I would not be here, if I would not have been there”. In other words, a decision or event here or there leads to a result and that takes you forward to the next fork in the road. And most of those events are not in your control or that you even have knowledge of.

I used the word “spontaneity” in the previous paragraph, but quite probably I should have used the word “continuum” or possibly better – “a series of coincidences”.

If we think about it, can anyone dispute the statement Hartford put forward in his song? So many circumstances, so far out of our control (with numbers of them before our birth). Almost anything that happens can make a difference. And the same is true for all you come in contact with, making a dizzying array of potential/possible scenarios.

Take my oldest friend in life. We have traced to our first crossing of life to possibly the third grade. We know we were on the same little league baseball team – the Blue Jays – in the summer between our fifth and sixth grade years of school. We would never have met unless his family moved to Marshall, Minn., because of a job opportunity for his dad. 

Skip to junior high and we had some classes together, some common friendships, and we found ourselves sharing similar interests. Baseball and baseball card games, ping pong, interest in cars, and just a great compatibility. That friendship grew and survived the 50-plus years since, despite years of great geographical separation and at times contact.

Both of our lives have had plenty of forks in the road – but somehow our forks keep coming back to a common crossing – coincidence? No. I think sometimes we can put a bit of our wishes into how things work out. That friendship was too important for coincidence.

So back to John Hartford: “I certainly would not be here if I had not been there”. Agreed, but you have some control to keep the important stuff along the way.