I was using a knee scooter following foot surgery when I discovered the dangers of uneven pavement. Regardless of how carefully I navigated to my destination, I had little control over my journey. Sure, I could pick the direction and for the most part, I could control the speed, well, except for when I was going downhill. Even then, I had hand brakes that I could lean on or my right shoe, which created the perfect drag. But despite the fact it looked like I was very much in the “driver’s seat,” my experiences out there on the open road or, in my case, a well-landscaped college campus, indicated that I was often at the mercy of circumstances.

This is the bottom line: stuff happens. For example, the wheel on the front of the scooter could easily get caught on a raised edge of concrete or plummet from the slightest dip. A small rock could wreak havoc. The end result was always the same. The scooter would tip and unless I was completely on guard, I tipped with it.

During one venture out, I found myself and the scooter in a mud puddle before I even knew what was happening. I got back up and while the front basket was a little bent, the scooter was no worse for wear. I was dirty and had a few scrapes and bruises, but I knew I had to get back on the scooter, back on the pavement–uneven or not–and keep moving.

It turns out it’s a great analogy for life. We make plans and do what we can to navigate through life. Sometimes we run full force ahead. Other times, we move at a snail’s pace, especially if we are at the mercy of a knee scooter. The ride isn’t always smooth and sometimes when it is, we are fooled into thinking we found our path. We are finally in control.

However, all it takes is a little uneven pavement to remind us we will encounter a lot of ups, downs and cracks along the way. But that doesn’t mean we won’t get where we are heading.

It’s just that the trip might not be exactly how we planned.