Last week my childhood friend, George, mentioned “parallel tracks.” He talked about how the wooden ties that hold train tracks together can become weakened over time and, thus, can deleteriously affect the parallel course of the track. He said that cement ties have been found to be better at maintaining the integrity of the parallel track. That got me thinking.

I have often thought that my wife provided me with the “keel” to keep my “ship of life” straight. If my life bobs to the right or left at times, my “keel” will help me “straighten out.” To be straight (vertical) in this way implies that my legs are parallel. An analogy to “going parallel” is skiing. I recall that in learning to ski, I had to keep my skis from turning in or out. I had to keep them parallel, otherwise I might fall.

How do I keep myself parallel? By having a strong “tie” holding my two legs (tracks) together. What is this “tie that binds” made of? Is it healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, faith, trust, love? These are some things that may represent the cement that keeps us parallel and holds (ties) us “straight.”

When we look at parallel lines in the distance, they do not look parallel. Whether looking down the street or looking at a painting or photograph, the lines of perspective are moving towards each other. Often we may think: I can do it later. “Later” appears far off, down the track, looks “un-parallel,” and therefore may seem unimportant. Only when we are there, at the moment, are the lines parallel. This seems to say something important about the present. The present (now) is the time to “walk straight.” If we modify our behavior now, we have a chance to continue these behaviors into the future. We need to realize those tracks out there in our future really are parallel. They are waiting for us to arrive. We must be ready for them.

The train is lucky. If it has good strong cement to tie its tracks, it will likely run a straight and parallel course. We humans, however, must attend to our “cement” to see that it remains firm.

When we are in trouble, we might think of those solid, parallel, well-connected railroad tracks. We might think of our “chi,” our center of gravity, as being connected to each of our legs (rails). And we can trust that our “ties” are strong.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at Robertebsen@hotmail.com