Blissfully Astray

Tra-lah! It's May! The lusty month of May! 
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray. 
~Camelot

When was the last time, if ever, that you went blissfully astray? The last time you went on a wild tangent? The last time you, as my dear friend Jacob would say, burned the leash?

I don't mean you should go crazy to the detriment of others. I'm asking, when was the last time, if ever, you just let it all go? We live in a world where control, especially self-control, is seen as the epitome of of how we should be. Most of the time that's not such a bad idea. But every now and again, don't you just want to get a little crazy?

A couple of weeks ago, Steve and I spent a few days at Lake Chelan, where our condo looked out over the lake. I spent part of an afternoon watching three young girls take over the dock and use it as their stage. They sang and danced and bowed and curtsied. They didn't care at all who was watching or even if anyone was watching. They gave their best performances with complete abandon. After a couple of hours, a mother called them in. Their disappointment was obvious, with cries of, "Awww... do we hafta?!"

It pained me to think how much joy we give up when we strive so hard for self-control, for the appearance of some kind of steadfast life. Because life isn't steadfast at all. Life is chaotic and crazy and prone to going blissfully or not so blissfully astray all on its own. Maybe that's why we try so hard. Maybe we're looking for some kind of reigning in on this wild ride. There ain't no such thing.

So why not, every once in a while at least, why not let yourself go blissfully astray? Step off the path - the path is variable anyway, it's the walking that signifies. Trip the wild tangent. Burn the stinkin' leash.