Cars on a cable

Where I grew up there was a big amusement park (Opryland) that had a ride called the Tin Lizzies. They were old timey cars on a metal track, so all you really did was push the gas pedal and steer a few inches to the left or right. There wasn't any way to venture far from the cable. There's two directions this metaphor can go. Life is predetermined and we don't really have control to make choices that matter... or we're protected against the possibility of running ourselves off course. Sometimes it's frustrating to think that no matter how much I try I can't change directions, and I feel stuck. Other times it's comforting to know that I can just take my hands off the wheel and enjoy the ride.

Life really is an hourglass glued to the table. It's up to us to use this time wisely.