Don’t Be The Scarecrow (The Friday Ficks S5 E46)

When Dorothy and Toto started down the Yellow Brick Road, they came to a fork and didn’t know which way to go. Then they met the Scarecrow, who tried to help by pointing left... then right... then both ways.

The Scarecrow didn’t own his answer.

Ownership - such a simple word, yet so layered.

Owning a dog? That’s commitment.

Owning a home? A thrill for first-timers.

Owning a boat? From what I hear, pure joy the day you buy it...and even more joy the day you sell it.

But owning your choices - that’s a different kind of ownership altogether.

In U2’s “Kite,” Bono sings, “Who’s to say where the wind will take you? Who’s to say what it is will break you? I don’t know which way the wind will blow.”

We’ve seen too many “Scarecrow moments” in the last 45 days - elected “leaders” waiting to see which way the wind blows before taking a stand on reopening the federal government.

Waiting before speaking up. Before supporting a cause. Before advocating for those with less power.

Plausible deniability. Orwellian doublespeak. Equivocation. Vagueness.

And plenty of finger-pointing.

The Scarecrow had an excuse for his lack of ownership - he sang, “If I only had a brain.”

You don’t have that excuse. Use it. Take a stand. Own your choices.

Don’t be the Scarecrow.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl