Which way?

I wish life was a flow chart. This or that? Here or there. Now or later.

Reminds me of my precocious 9 year old helping her toddler sister with what to choose on the kids menu. Patiently, she would go down the list of the six kid-friendly items, 2 by 2, asking, “Do you want this or this?” With each selection they would move on, pitting the winner against the next option: “That or this?” Until there was a final victor. Perfect: here’s what you order!

The beauty of the flow chart is the single direction arrow. Perhaps our minds are designed only to consider two options at a time. I get in trouble when I start from the bottom and try to work my way up. Like when I scan the horizon and say, God, which way is your way?

My problem: I have put myself at the foot of the arrow and directed it back to God. Asking Him, “what do you need me to do for you today?”

I’m pretty sure I hear him chuckling. Then He calls, “Incoming!!” And I hold out my hands just in time to catch the packet He has lobbed in my direction. I untie the string and peel away the soft, brown wrapping. It smells of incentive. Luscious, alluring, tantalizing.

I breathe it in. Carry it along. Until, “Incoming!”

I toss the last and catch the next. A bit heavier. No problem.

“Incoming!”

Catch. open. respond. release. repeat. I can do this.