Day 4 - 69 -- Slippery Rocks

Friday has been busy and the day marking a very long and full week. The highlight of the day was an annual lecture that we hold in honour of an amazing member of our profession. A young woman who knew the honouree was chosen to speak this year. I enjoyed the talk as she spoke to her career and the need to follow your passion. Many words of wisdom were shared, though she hesitated to call them such as she didn't feel old enough. My response is that wisdom isn't always just something that comes with being older in years, but seeing the world from a mature place. The lecture ended with her noting that there are many stepping stones we can use to move us towards our dreams.

Hearing the statement about stepping stones, made me think of the metaphor as used by Denny Doherty (from the Mamas and Papas). In his autobiographical one-man stage play, he spoke of moving through life as crossing a stream or river -- looking for the rocks that will help you walk across. He noted that the next step often turned out to be a slippery rock -- one that took a lot of effort to keep oneself upright and not fall in the drink. Others were dry safe rocks. When a choice appeared, sometimes the slippery rock would get you there faster, but with greater effort. It is something like Frost's "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I chose the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Now, we don't always know if the bother of a less traveled road or a slippery rock will be worth it, but in hindsight it often has been. Perhaps that is the faith aspect of following a dream.

A couple of songs entered my head when thinking through this metaphor. I chose one that made me giggle when I first heard it in my head today. The version shared here is from the first group to record this song in 1966, thought it is third group to record that often comes to mind first. Enjoy!

(I'm not your) Steppin' Stone -- Paul Revere and the Raiders