Monsters of Uncertainty
The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next. ~ Ursula K. Le Guin
When I was a young father my daughter periodically struggled with infestations of monsters taking up residency beneath her bed. Rainbow unicorn nightlights and magic pixie faery princess dust seemed to have no effect upon them. My level-headed rational assurance that there were no monsters pitted against her incarnate knowing that there were, led to a protracted entrenchment of opposing certitudes. The problem wasn’t so much their inexplicable existence but rather their uncertain consequence – all the scary worst-case mayhem monsters have been known to whip up.
Exacerbated, I lay down beside her in the glow of her rainbow unicorn nightlight. As she became calm and drifted toward sleep, my mind got busy ruminating. I began taking inventory of all the itinerant monsters of uncertainty in my life – the ones waiting for me at the office, lurking in my inbox, screaming from tomorrow’s news headlines. How could I not see that my daughter's monsters were no less real than my own? I noticed my arm was carelessly hanging down over the side of the bed. I reflexively lifted it out of harm’s way.
We lay together, her tiny warm body nestled next to mine, as the rise and fall of our breathing threaded the quiet night tapestry. A wind-chime mingled with the soft rustling of leaves while a mournful train whistle journeyed in the distance. I came to realize my job as father is less about filling her world with more certainty but rather companioning her in her uncertainty.
As friends, family members, and of course, parents, let us make friends with uncertainty and be companions to others in theirs.
With that, we invite you to explore this month’s BreakBread prompt on uncertainty:
How has permanent, intolerable uncertainty shaped your life and world?
For more information about BreakBread and our prompts visit BreakBread.World.