Begin nothing...

I ordered Chinese food, carry-out, for lunch the other day from Panda House on the NW side of Ann Arbor. The food wasn't bad, actually it quite good ... but what do I know ... I am not Chinese. In the bag was the usual containers full of either Sweet-N-Sour Chicken or Beef Lo Mein, two of my staples, not sure which, a fork some napkins and my fortune-cookie. Oh that wonderfully dry, semi-sweet, semi-crunchy, mystery dessert sealed, forwho knows how long ago, in its sulifane container, all puffed-up with air so it is not opened, but "popped", just wainting to be broken revealing the prophosy inside.

Scarfing down my lunch I toss all the empty containers back into the back, roll it down and into the brown plastic bin it goes, leaving my fortune cookie on my desk anxiously awaiting to reveal its message. I reach for it. Give the bag a squeeze. Not too tight, but gotta do it enough to get that great "pop" sound and keep the cookie in tact. After all, we don't want to break it prematureally.

POP!

Ah, there it is. Yeah! What a great sound. Tossing the wrapper aside I quickly take the folded crisp and "snap!", break it into two pieces. Yup, there's that 2" by 1/2" piece of paper with my newest revelation. "What will you have me do next?" I ask the fortune. "What will be in my future?" "What great encouraging words will you have for me?"

Begin nothing until you have considered how it is to be finished.

Huh? Is this cookie telling me to DO something, or to NOT do something?

"Begin nothing until you have considered how it is to be finished."

Huh? Interesting. My little piece of prophosy is telling me to not start anything until I have thought about how it will end. Who cares how it will end? Certainly when it comes to starting a business or some such thing, I am sure it is important to consider how the company will dissolve, be purchased, or even pulled apart from a dispute amoungst the partners, but "nothing". Really? Should we really never begin to do anything until we have thought it thru to the end? Hmmm.

I thought life was meant to be a journey. Mysterious and unfolding at every twist, turn and decision. Considering "how it will end" takes all the mystery and fun out of life. Doesn't it? I want to jump into each and everyday ... NOT knowing how they will end. I want to jump into each and every endevour, dream and desire ... NOT knowing exactly what will come. Sure, I'd like to know a little bit about what is to come... but I could give a rip about "how it will end".

Furtunately my lucky numbers were 42, 28, 6, 37, 18, and 44.