In no uncertain terms:  life is uncertain.  Haven't you noticed? Just when it all seems to be settling in around us, just when we begin to trust the constancy, the predictability of our day to day lives, WHAM! Something new, and possibly not so improved puts its foot on the edge of our boat, and rocks it.  And still, so many of us live with our don't-rock-the-boat philosophy, darting from hiding place to hiding place in hopes that finally we will be able to avoid the dreaded nature of life: UNCERTAINTY.

That's right:  the nature of life.  Uncertainty is not some renegade spoiler plotting to interfere with the pleasant (and consistent) plans we have for ourselves.  Uncertainty is not the foe that we must defeat in order to live happily ever after.  Uncertainty is not the Darth Vader to our Luke Skywalker.

Uncertainty is a very ingenious means to the all important end.

Think about it.  What makes the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful, the purposeful and the aimless, the happy and the miserable? It is our relationship with uncertainty that will determine all of this -- and (as they say in the advertising business) much, much more!

If I decide that I am out of shape, aging a little less than gracefully, and if I decide to respond to my awareness by acknowledging the need to get into better shape and begin going to the gym three times a week, I am not going to be surprised and offended at the exercise that awaits me at the gym.  Well, maybe I will.  But if I am, I will certainly be missing the point.  And if I remain surprised, offended or resistant in any of the multitude of other ways at which I am so adept, I can be sure that the flab that I detest will not be transforming into the muscle that I long for.

Consider this:  What if human life is the gym, and uncertainty is the exercise?  What if we are aging, increasingly flabby souls in a universe that reaches far beyond this little health club we call earth?  What if we have come here, every one of us, to get into better shape?  Picture it.  A crowded little gym with a bunch of out of shape souls running around (I suppose there is some aerobic value there) avoiding exercise.

Uncertainty is exercise for the soul?  An ingenious means to an all important end? 

Yep.  At least I think so.  Through our relationship with all that is uncertain in this sometimes smelly gym called earth, we are constantly challenged to remember what is really important to us.  Daily -- or at least three time per week -- we are faced with the opportunity to "work out" our personal value systems.  Our distractibility, our tendency to lose our place, is the flab of our souls.  Our genuine value system (not just expressed, but lived) is the muscle. 

In these uncertain times, I think it's as good a guess as any.  Of course, I can't be sure.

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