Shifting gears of life.
Some people may remember years ago
the ole three on the tree in some rides we had. Those from the younger crowd
see the attached picture for some clarification. It made for some puzzled looks
by some peeps. For those who may struggle today with the extra pedal there were
few automatic cars back in the day. Now if one shifting lever is starring at you
and you’re a bit intimidated there's more. The ole brownie 4 over 4 with the
double shifter as if three to four gear's isn't enough to keep ya busy add
another eight to ten or so. My uncle had some very serious patience in trying
to teaching me to drive a big truck with the double shifter. They say too if
you can't find them, grind em. Thankfully most of my kids have learned the
extra pedal skill. There have been some humorous articles on the news about
some youngsters making an attempt or two at car theft and jacking with no
skills in operation of extra pedals. They didn’t get far or very fast. Yeppers
a few skills not taught with the Xbox.
So what does this have to do with
life? We shift gears in the phases of life. Good thing we start out young or we
wouldn't do so well. As kids we have few cares and fears. We pick up those as
we get along in our life. We do the school thing for us and our kids for so
many years that we aren't sure if it will ever end. Then we shift in too high for
what we think is the finish from it and realize we are just getting started.
Then we shift to the grand kids with school. We send kids in to the military
and on church missions. We move and move again and again. Our kids marry and
sometimes people we know marry again. Things happen to us good and sometimes
not good. We go fast and slow, yes and even have to back up now and again. We
start over and make the best of things. We even try to relax when things get in
high gear. We try to laugh when the things we are trying seem to be in the
wrong gear. The old hiccups in the road.
So we are changing gears again each
day. These past few months has been a race to say the least but an exciting
opportunity for more adventure and growth. Purchasing a new place and
remodeling it. Finding more in a wall than you expect to deal with but knowing
it will somehow work its way out. Hosting a party of a family reunion. And
being stunned as our son announcing via social media he is seriously dating
someone. It is a good thing I might add and yes they're now making wedding
plans. Road tripp'n with my best gal friend and playing with grand kids is a new
shift too but rather fun. I would say that we change our plans often as things
come up and we learn how to drive more complicated vehicles in our lives. Best
is we learn how to cope, adjust, shift gears, and move on. The health hiccups
and bumps we find as we live life. Yeppers even having teeth that treat us to
an out pouring of anger. Had one of them just recently. Those times you look forward to
the family time that is sometimes what keeps us grounded and steady in our
pace. Hikes with high gear and for those of you so inclined, when ya have to “Lock
in the hubs”. Many of those trips ya pay for it after wards for a good many
days but ya would not miss the chance to go and would do it again even if they
(the young peeps) had to bury you along the trail. Those slow gear moments
spent eating breakfast watching the wild critters roaming freely in the back yard
and knowing life is so cool. Rocking in a chair with your little buddie
(grandson) as he sleeps quietly in your arms. A good wife and favorite gal friend
that no matter how things are going is on your side of the tractor pull we see
as life.
Strangely our world and many of the
people who are in it have a different though on life. Some people get caught in
one gear and can't seem to change speed or direction.
