Pivot Points

piv·ot    [piv-uht] –noun A pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.

A screech of tires, a baby’s first cry, a mentor’s insight or the winning goal of a championship game. What is your pivot point? In everyone’s life, there is a moment where the normal course of events are radically altered, skewed to a new path. How do we react? How do we cope? Who do we look to for answers? Was it a change for the better or a turn to the worse? Is it even easy to tell right away?

I have had several of these pivot points in my life. Lately, I have begun thinking about how they have altered the course of my life. Some of they have been a result of poor choices with the attached consequences. Others have been wonderful opportunities, providing me a whole new direction and outlook.

A couple of those experiences have been on my mind recently. I’ll write about them in more depth in the coming days. As I have looked back with the advantage of a multi-decade rear view mirror, I have become intrigued by the path of my life. Of course it hasn’t been a straight line. There have been many turns and corners. However, when the pivot points occurred, the trajectory knocked me completely out of my comfort zone.

When an airplane travels, it does not fly in a straight line to the destination. There are too many variables, including wind, storms mountains or other planes, that will cause the plane to shift from the planned course. During flight, the pilot constantly updates her position and makes adjustments to point the plane in the correct direction. The flight path actually appears to be a zigzag of corrections, each turn bringing the plane back in alignment with the location of the ultimate destination.

The path of my life has been much like an airplane’s, zigs and zags all over the place. In fact, some course adjustments have been backwards. The track looks like a drunken navigator is in charge sometimes. Those times have been when I have taken charge of the wheel myself. When I have turned it over to God, it smooths out and is a more orderly course. The experiences I have had definitely are leading me to be a better person, though. When I trust the navigator instead of making my own “intelligent and reasoned” decisions, the flight is smoother and the track more sure.

The final destination is not in view yet, but I am beginning to understand. Call it age or wisdom, I am starting to develop the faith to enjoy the ride.