Poster Painted by Mary Englebreit (available for sale on line)

Richard Wagamese, in his book of reflections Embers, offers this piece of wisdom for living:

“You have to learn to make your own moccasins… You make them from the hide of your experience, all the places you have walked. You sew them with the thread of the teachings, the lessons embedded in all the hard miles. You stitch them carefully with the needle of your intention—to walk a spiritual path—and when you’re finished, you realize that Creator lives in the stitches. That’s what helps you walk more gracefully.”

As I pondered this wisdom, several learnings arose within my heart. First and foremost is the statement, “You have to learn to make your own moccasins.” Too often we feel as if we have no power of our own, no real choices in our lives. It’s easy to take the stance of the victim. We blame others, events, or our experiences for who we have become.

Richard reminds us that we can use all of our life experiences—the happy and the difficult, the tragic and the exciting, the blessings and the troubles. We can choose to use them as opportunities for learning. In fact, that’s all we truly have. They are the materials from which we build our lives.

We have the power to use it all. And so, we need to choose how we will use it. Do we intend to become strong of will, courageous, loving? What kind of person do we choose to be? What kind of road do we choose to walk?

In the end, the person we have become is of our own making, with God’s help. Creator lives within our stitches.

Once again, wisdom tells us that we have a choice. We can choose the person we wish to become. We can choose to use our experiences to enable us to be the strong, kind, loving people God intends us to be. And rest assured, God is with us every step of the journey.

Richard ends his reflection with the words, “I got busy learning how to sew.” Our formation as people is never static. We always have the choice to begin again. We always have the opportunity to learn.

Over twenty-five years ago, I received a birthday card. At the time, I was building a new life after divorce. The card showed the back of a young child walking down a path. Behind her, the road had forked. She had taken the left fork. A sign at the fork pointed to the right and read, “No Longer an Option,” while the sign to the left read, “Your Life.”

Today, the most important word on that sign is “Your.” We don’t live someone else’s life. It is our life and our choice.

Today, I would write underneath “Your Life” the words:
“New adventures. Thank you, God.”