I like the poem by Walt Whitman, entitled, 'There Was a Child Went Forth ...' ---and one of the last lines, "the curious whether and how ...". And it is very curious whether something will happen or how it will happen. We may be a part of a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' aiding in what we fear, or we may have a resolve to do something about it, or then again, perhaps we can do nothing. But, we can choose 'how' we respond to our imaginations, to our fears, and to our realities ---if they happen, and if they don't.

 Some people are good at lots of things, so they may be good at 'leading' several things ...but perhaps they shouldn't. Does it rob others of what they could or should be doing ...the chance to grow and learn??

Other people are good at being followers, but there are all kinds of followers ...and let's at least mention 'active' followers and 'passive' followers. Some passive followers ...well, it is similar to 'following' on social media, as in 'accepting' or 'interested in' ...and the follower doesn't have to do anything but click 'follow'. At first glance those 'clicks' do not appear as offensive as the 'cliques' I was familiar with in school ...unless you perhaps choose to 'comment' also. If you commit to comment, then you have entered the frey and you may begin to fray at the edges.

But, also ...you can click 'follow' and you don't have to do anything.

Some active followers also don't virtually do much either ...except perhaps follow others with 'signs', often which have been made by someone else and just handed out. That sign usually represents much charged emotions, and conflict arises if anyone says something contrary to the sign. No real dialogue usually takes place, just a lot of charged emotion. Opinions are voiced, but they are not too creative and have been already kindled by a commitment ready to loudly defend what they are supposed to stand for. But, few are open to any meaningful dialogue. They often say they are, but it rarely takes place ...and a diversion of accusations usually tries to point a finger, or just display one. And anyone who disagrees should not expect a welcoming committee.

Those who say thy are open to dialogue are only open to having themselves heard ...repeating what others have said, and accusing others of being close-minded. It is so convenient, and sadly often very effective to accuse someone else of doing the very thing you are doing.

How would life be if we were all conjoined twins ...and often joined with someone much different than ourselves?? It is often a thing of beauty to see how conjoined twins get along.

We are humans ...yet, what if we were a part of parthenogenesis like aphids or possibly induced to be such, as sea urchins?? Well, I prefer the way it is with us in the beginning part of Genesis.

If it were any other way, would we learn what it's like to get along in this life ...to depend upon others?? The difficult part of life may be like a caterpillar ...not realizing yet what our struggles will bring about. Imagine a caterpillar being blind, and thinking it is already a butterfly. If it is blind, perhaps it could not see its beauty (or lack of it), but it could feel as if it is flying, when in reality it is not gliding on the air, but the air gliding past it. It is often good to look to what we can become, but we should also know what we are now. And we are not just lowly caterpillars devouring whatever we can ...and the caterpillar is perhaps more important than the butterfly because there would be no butterflies without caterpillars.

But, we should mostly look to the One who designed both ...and perhaps attempt to understand for what reason.

I've heard many comments in reference to the bumper stickers that say, "God is my Co-pilot!"  With much confidence, I've heard people differ on that account, saying "God is the Pilot!"

I don't have either of those bumper stickers, but I have to say that with my car "I am the pilot!" I would never blame God for hitting that mailbox.

We also say that God should be at the center of our life. I played high school football, and the center is the center. The quarterback is 'at' the center, to receive the football ...though often the quarterback is in shotgun formation. And is the quarterback calling the plays, or is the coach on the sidelines.

I know we often seem to sideline God, and not put Him at the center, but is He really at the center ...it is not our doing where He, as He is all around. It is more how we view Him ...that really benefits us. I know this is much semantics, but this is sort of where this all began.

And though this conversation may not be very popular with many who've made gender and huge issue ...God did create man and woman the way He did for a reason. A dear friend of mine once said that man and woman were created for conflict ...and I knew he meant 'growth'. The reason we often have conflict is because we need to grow, and sometimes it's like that struggle within the chrysalis. 

God wants us to emerge as a new creature ...and to soar.