recently i heard about a friend who's leaving it all behind and going on a BIG adventure. leaving the security of home, of old friends, of a job, of parents, of the known ... for the UNknown. foolhardy? mebbe ... but is it right for friends or family no matter how well meaning to advise someone against going down a path that they have not traveled themselves - and even if it resembles some path they or someone they know has taken, is it the exact same road, will the outcome be the same?
all i know if life is fraught with dangers. bad things happen to people who never go anywhere. never do anything. i guess i would rather people not try to change someone's mind if the decision's been made - the path less traveled already charted - for several reasons.
1) because the view is different from the driver's seat. backseat drivers are seldom helpful ...
2) it's their life - any regrets or victories are their's alone. if i cn't be certain that they are going to fall off the cliff at the end, then i don't want to be the reason they don't find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ...
3) even if they fall off the cliff - i trust that God will catch them
there are some very stupid things people can do - like kill someone, take drugs, cheat on their partners, etc. and certainly, it would be totally irresponsible to sit back and allow your friend to go ahead and destroy their life in these ways ... but we need to resist interfering in the decisions of friends who we know to be on the whole mature/rational/intelligent adults even if it doesn't sync with what we think is best for them ... 'best' is such a loaded word, isnt it? what does it really mean to be your brother/sister's keeper? hmm. ...
2 comments:
hehe, rare to read a thought-provoking post on ur blog.. no offence but it's normally light (and enjoyable) reading! ya, sometimes i wonder how we could live out this: `being your brother's keeper'. i had an experience just.. is about my cousin brother, who is 25. he has his own way of thinking which is a bit unconventional esp to the older generations.. my dad wanted me to persuade him to go back to study (he only has form 5 qual) or seek a steady job but his own plan is go into his own business..strive hard to make more money and one day soon - become semi-retired! which may sound risky at this time. But thing is, after listening to his plan and conviction, i no longer want to change him.. but offer some advice only. cos i think everyone has his/her own path to go, as long as not doing something `silly' like what u mention..
anyways.. keep up the good work in blogging! at least u know u have one reader here. ;) i'm sure got many more!
thanks for the encouragement! nice to know that i have 1 or 2 readers ;)
online journaling is a nice way to record (and share) my experience here in the US. and i do enjoy putting down thoughts on 'paper' occasionally - in some ways more satisfying then taking photos. i hvn't been as consistent as i'd like but at least some of the memories are preserved here :D
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