Finding Strength in the “Unknown”

 “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas . . . “

Waiting deep in thought at a stoplight on Metcalf earlier this evening, I became aware of myself humming along as Bing Crosby crooned his familiar Christmas Classic. Then I chuckled. The irony hit me. I was preoccupied precisely because of the icy, blizzardy forecast for Kansas City—just in time for Christmas 2009!  Hmmph. White Christmas indeed. Nothing dreamy about slick streets and power outages. I was strategically plotting Plan B in case conditions became too treacherous for the 30-plus guests who were invited to share the holiday ham and turkey I’d just waited in line for.

Ah, to know the future . . . what a gift, right?

During my senior year at O’Hara High School, one of my teachers gave us the first few minutes of each class to jot down a few sentences that captured our thoughts of the moment. Periodically, Mr. B would review the journals. In one of my entries, I declared how wonderful it would be if we could predict the future . . . how much easier decisions would be, etc., etc. I’ll never forget Mr. B’s simple comment for that journal entry: “Why would you get up each morning?”

At first his remark puzzled me. Then the realization dawned. If we could know everything that is going to unfold before us, there would be no hope, no expectation, no challenge, and no victory.

I often ask entrepreneurs who are guests on my radio show: “With all the challenges that business ownership presents, what keeps you getting out of bed each day?” To a person, they say that each day is different, that each day holds a new challenge, a new blessing. The not knowing is what keeps them charged, energized and enthused.

The real “gift” of life is the journey . . . what we learn along the way, the people we meet and the situations that help us discover strengths we never knew we had.

Will we have a White Christmas? Looks like it. Will our holiday plans change because of it? I don’t know right now. But I do know that it will be a wonderful, memorable day in some way—even if it means lots of holiday ham leftovers.

Here’s to the New Year—whatever it holds!