It was about 7pm on a warm Nashville evening back in 1989 and I had been on the phone with the manager of the group for which I was considering to start working. It was either this…or plan B. Either way, tomorrow my life was going to be very different – I just hadn’t decided how. Option A was to move to Washington State and join a group of about 6 people who would operate and live in a far remote area of the wilderness planting trees. I asked the manager tons of questions which I am sure he had fielded several times before with other potential recruits. How far is the nearest city? What tools do we use? Do we need to have prior experience? Etc etc. At the end of our almost 2 hour conversation, I was far more informed about planting trees (with a commitment of 1 year) in the remote valleys of Washington, but I was not any closer to actually deciding between option A…or option B – which was to move to Mexico (Mexico the Nation not New Mexico the state) and work with a video production business. In my mind I ran through the Pro’s and Con’s over and over and there just was no simple answer because of their similar appeal…and then it came time for me to make a decision once and for all. I did the only mature, responsible and wise thing to do – I took a coin from my pocket and flipped it. ‘Heads’; me and the Douglas-Fir were going to be best friends, and ‘Tails’; my Spanish was about to be thrown into the fire. In seemingly slow motion, the coin landed on the back of my hand which I slapped my other hand over. Slowly, I removed my hand to reveal: ‘tails’ – I started packing for Mexico.
I cannot tell you how many times I have wondered how different my life might be had I flipped heads. As a result of living in Mexico; many things in my life have become cemented….and I imagine they might have been vastly different with the opposite face of a coin. But then I ask myself the deeper question; ‘would that have meant my life would have actually been any better?’ And what constitutes ‘better’ anyway?!
Point being; we face crossroads with different consequences fairly often…maybe some are less dramatic than others. At some point, we do things like weigh the options in our heads, consult our friends or family, pray about it, or maybe even flip a coin. But then tomorrow comes and your previous world is in your rear view mirror as you barrel towards whatever ‘better’ it is you are convinced awaits you. Change can be a very stressful event for many people, but at some point we simply have come to realize – it is time for a change. Sometimes we aren’t the ones who decide we need to make a change. The end of a relationship, maybe the end of a job…they aren’t always happy decisions we WANT to be making, but the bottom line is: it’s time to move on.
Who’s to say there is only ONE path for our lives and if we choose the ‘wrong’ path we will lead a life of lesser joy or success? What awaits you? New friends, new opportunities, new adventures? Whether you are making a change voluntarily or as a result of some unexpected event, remember to embrace the change. Of course it is best if you are moving UP but sometimes we need to make lateral moves and that’s okay too! You’re still headed in the right direction. There is no “wrong choice” when making life-altering decisions. It’s simply THIS or THAT.
I always liked the scene from the movie “Cast Away” with Tom Hanks and towards the end, he stands at a crossroad. He studies the options, looks as far down the road as possible, seemingly weighing the options, then he walks down his selected path. Whatever decision he made, I am sure he found fulfillment in it. I’m sure had I chosen the ‘other path’ I would have been just fine, maybe different friends and opportunities, but I am sure in the end…I would find happiness and success in whatever I chose.
“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:6