It’s easy to sit in the rider’s seat and think you have all the answers how others should live their lives.

I think some of us have stopped investing. I don’t mean money; I mean affection and attention. I mean care and concern, compassion and consideration, time and tenderness to the everyday folks we pass on the street.

Some people live just like those captive animals, unaware of the vast universe outside their cage, outside the boundaries of their universe. They live in cages they built themselves — cages built out of fear or loneliness or ignorance or arrogance.

Instead of giving up and giving in to the pain, the oyster fights back, and in the process, creates something beautiful. It makes something good out of something bad. 

Tradition dictates that a woman stands on a man’s left, though the need no longer exists, because that’s how it’s always been done, and we’re too comfortable with our imaginary swords to change. We’re too comfortable doing things as they’ve always been done, though the reason died away long ago.

Sometimes we need to be reminded to look up and be ready for greatness to fall in our outstretched glove.

Now, those hands, those giant hands, rested on the man’s chest. Their work was done — til the Lord needs help with that old tractor that won’t start.

When life presents unexpected challenges, just keep winding up the slack, keep moving forward, even if it's at a slower pace and even when the future is uncertain. Remember, you aren't alone in the boat; we all have our line in the water we call life.

And, so must we all learn, that though we may not be free of struggles, we are free in how we face life’s challenges.