Wizbits From Dad

Don’t Straddle The Fence

As kids, Dad would take my brothers and me on lots of hikes. At the time, I thought Dad was a big outdoorsman, and he did like the outdoors and camping and such, but I think now that he took us on hikes because it was fun and it was free. And of course, it tired out the three or four boys he took with him so they could settle down when they returned. I’m sure there were times when Mother must have said in anguish “Would you PLEASE take these wild boys for a hike???”

On many of these hikes, we came across barbed wire fences. After a time, we got pretty good at crossing them. There was always a decision to be made when we approached one, though, as each one was different. First, we had to decide if we could go over, under or through the fence. This depended on how the wires were stretched between the posts, how much room was between them, whether it was a new or old fence, and how strong the fence was (in case we needed to climb over it).

Many times, we would hold part of the fence with our hand, pulling up with all our might, and pushing down on the lower wire with our foot making a nice sized “hole” through which one of our siblings could climb without getting stuck by the barbs. Then, from the other side, brother after brother would hold for the next person in line. Of course, as boys, we would sometimes let go too soon “on accident” and cause spats and screams. It was so much fun! (Another reason Mother didn’t always go with us.)

Of course, the worst was when we tried to climb over the fence and lost our footing and fell onto the barbed wire fence. OUCH! that would hurt! Of course, there was always the threat of having to get a tetnus shot on top of the pain. Double-ouch! At any rate, we soon learned to be VERY Careful around those fences. That’s a lesson you carry with you through life for sure.

Later in my raising, I vaguely remember going to Dad with some decision or another that required me to choose sides or to go one way or the other. Dad reminded me: “Don’t straddle the fence… it will only make your crotch sore!”  Somewhat crude, but how true it is! When you need to decide, the last thing you need to do is try to do both things. You will either get grief from both sides or feel like you’re being torn down the middle. In those situations, you are usually better off to make a decision and move on over to that side. If you see you’ve made the wrong decision, then by all means, go back over the “fence.”  But you have to know that trying to do two things, in opposite directions, is impossible.

Another way of thinking about it is when you are attempting to get on a boat from the dock. You place one foot on the boat and start to move. At that point, you either have to get on the boat or not. If you hesitate, and the boat moves, you’re in the water. Getting on a boat is a decision you commit to. You make your move and keep moving. You can’t be on the dock and on the boat at the same time. Unless the boat is tied securely, and even then, one side moves and the other doesn’t. It’s still not a good position.

Dad’s warning may sound a bit crude and give you thoughts of terrible pain, being dropped onto a barbed wire fence. But that is a good way to remember it. When you straddle the fence, you’re going to make yourself hurt, disappoint others, look like a non-decisive idiot and be the laughing stock of the “brothers” around you who get a good laugh out of your misfortune. Not a pretty picture. Neither is indecision.

At this point, I’m also reminded of Dad’s other Wizbit: ”Do Something, even if it’s wrong!”  and my Wizbit that may be to come: “To not decide, is to decide not to.” Indecision is not a failure to make a decision. It is a decision… to do nothing. It rarely takes you to a successful end.

Make decisions. Choose. Move forward. Be decisive. Be successful. Don’t straddle the fence… it will only make your crotch sore.