Walking the White Line -
Staying in the Middle of the Road


Three years ago we adopted a pound puppy that we renamed Liberty to signify her newfound freedom.  One of the reasons we adopted her was to force me to walk each morning.  And walk we do.  Each morning we go about a mile down the access road and back on the main road.

In our rural community there are no sidewalks and so we stay on the outside of the painted white line where it's safer.  I noticed one morning that Libby liked to walk right on the 3" wide line.  All four furry paws moved in perfect motion, head held high, right on the balance beam of paint on the asphalt.  A definite 10.0 Olympic pup to be sure, but why would she do that?

One day, I slipped off my Birkenstock, set my foot down on the white line and closed my eyes.  It was cooler than the black pavement, it was smoother as the paint filled in the cracks and it was just a bit higher.  Then I got it, the white line was just a little bit smoother . . by walking along that line - she enhanced our walk, she made it just that much better.

I often walk a line in my life.  I try to keep a balance between my personal life and my work, between wrong and right and what is honest and what is shady.  If we really do keep our paws on the line, what difference will it make?

Our walk will be cooler.  We won't absorb the heat that we feel in our days, the glancing rays of disapproval and criticism that we sometimes feel will just bounce off and we'll maintain our calm.

Our walk will be smoother.  In my case, living my life by the 10 Commandments takes the pressure off.  The tough decisions have already been made for me, I know right from wrong and I don't have to make the choice, it's already been considered.

Because I can feel the line in my heart, and in my toes, I don't have to keep looking down to see if I'm over the line. So we'll keep walking every morning, sun, rain or snow.  We've learned where the line is and we'll try to keep our balance and not stumble.