Every day is a surprise.

It's true, every day really is a surprise. When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is open the blind on the bedroom window, and I have that half a second of anticipation as to what might be out there...snow? rain? grey clouds? blue sky? I look out into our backyard and over the fence into the neighbours back yard, will I see the neighbours shovelling? mowing? having a morning cup of coffee? Will their dog, Chinook, hear the blind and look back at me, head tilted sideways in curiosity? What I see will sometimes have an effect on the rest of my day...you know, will I change plans because of the weather? Will I go for a walk in the forest, or do laps at the arena? Whatever my choices are, they usually aren't very life-changing.

However, you just don't know what the day will bring as the sun moves through the sky...from moment to moment something might happen that will change your life, either for good or for bad, and in a way, it's sort of frightening, not knowing what choice to make. Even simple things like when I'm walking in the bush, I come to many forks in the path and sometimes I take one without even thinking, other times I wonder which way to go.... I always end up back at home anyhow, but what if I come across a nasty dog that attacks me, or a cougar, or I trip and snap an ankle and no one knows where I am? How do you know which choice to make? And does it matter? Would something equally bad happen if you choose the other path? Or something equally good?

Or, does it even matter what you choose? Is the choice is made for you. Karma? Fate? Destiny? The Will of God?

Two of my friends woke up one day this summer, I'm sure they both looked out their window and had no idea that on this day, their lives would change.

One friend bought a lottery ticket and won $500, 000! A half a million bucks!

The other friend said "Have fun" or something equally inane to her 20 year old son as he went out, and on his way home that night, he was in an accident and died instantly.

Both of my friends are, as far as I know, equally decent and good people. So what's it all about? Who made that choice?

~There are the waves and there is the wind, seen and unseen forces. Everyone has these same elements in their lives, the seen and unseen, karma and free will. ~Kuan