Cliffs

Long ago, as a ship navigated through notoriously dangerous waters, the captain looked out and saw the infamous cliffs that had periled many a vessel. Feeling safer with the potential danger in sight, he sailed near, but not too near, the cliffs. With the ship rocking in the surf, a young crew member questioned the captain: “Why, with all that open water to our port, do you sail so close to the cliffs ?” Unable to find a justifiable reply, the captain admitted his error and turned the ship in a new direction.

Like the sober alcoholic who remains transfixed on the bottle  . . . the recovering addict who thinks only of the needle . . . the young driver watching the police car . . . the dieter smelling the tempting dishes . . . the married woman fantasizing about her new co-worker, cliffs beckon us in their own particular ways. Keeping them in sight can feel safe, but it can also demand the kind of stoic resolve that turns knuckles white as we grip the wheel to navigate our way through life. Why not sail toward the open seas of new social habits, meaningful relationships, healthy living, and true serenity?

Cliffs? Open seas? The choice is ours.