Discernment

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Two of my
"Five Points" are about
Commitment.

1.  Make a commitment.
5.  Recommit, and recommit.

Those five points came about
Looking back at bike trips,
Wondering what showed up to help me
"Stay the Course" ...
To keep at it.

I know that
Committing is a first step.
Plus I've learned
Recommitting is what I need to do
Over and over.
Sometimes every few minutes.

That's what gets me to bike trips.
That's what keeps me riding one-day-at-a-time.
Often it is one-minute-at-a-time.

Today I saw it for myself on an even wider scope.
You remember that here on South Padre Island
Bob and I are using public buses for transportation.
Committed to doing that for our own benefit.

Free, so a bargain.
Comfortable, once seated on my way.
Reliable, always show up eventually.
Timely, mostly.

Earlier in the week, rainy day, wind blasting,
I took the bus to Line-Dance Class,
(My new vacation venture.)

Outbound was smooth.
Return took 25-minute wait
In cold, wet, windy rain.
Awful!

Shivering, dripping, ready to get into bus,
My foot on first step, Driver yelled out
What the Hell are you doing out here?
I actually felt welcomed...
Or at least noticed that I had stuck it out.
Recommitted.

Today, even worse weather,
Dance-line day.
Do I go for the bus?

Committing to ride public transportation
Only when conditions are "smooth,”
Is that like committing to riding a bike trip
If all the miles are flat with no hills?

I hadn't thought of that analogy.
But rigid compliance also not a match.

Bailed today, didn't go.

Told myself, consider the "recommitment.”
Notice requirement,
Know what matches,
Make the best choice for that situation.
Use discernment.

That's what's possible for me.
It can get me through hard spots,
Move me to that day's destination,
And let me figure out the best.
Even as mundane as waiting for a bus.

Hugs,
Lin