History buffs will remember an epic decision made by Julius Caesar during the struggle for power in the early Roman Empire. In the year 49 B.C.E., while Caesar was Governor of Gaul, he chose to move his army across a small river named the Rubicon, which was on the border of Gaul and Italy. At that time it was against Roman law for him to move out of his territory. In fact it was treasonous and certain to cause bloodshed between Caesar’s factions and his rival, Pompey’s. Nevertheless, after much thought, he made the choice; the die was cast, and the advance of the Roman Empire was forever changed.
...no going back...
Today’s history has given this episode great metaphoric meaning for us. Today when we “cross the Rubicon,” it means that we have made a decision where there is no going back. We are at the point of no return. To be sure, many crossings are no big deal, and we make thousands of little ones all through our lives. There is a point of no return when we choose to turn right against a red light. There is a point of no return when we choose to drive across a busy bridge. We never think much of the implications of such decisions, and we don’t have to. They normally don’t make that big an impact.
You cannot become an un-parent...
However, we will cross some Rubicons that really are life changing and have great impacts. People who emigrate to another country enter into a great unknown. People who decide to get married and carry through the act are changing their lives forever, even if the marriage does not prevail. People who become parents, either through choice or carelessness, have crossed a Rubicon where there is no going back. You cannot become an un-parent, even if you release the child to others. This is an act and a memory that always leaves its mark.
a Rubicon worth thinking about...
We know there are many acts, choices and moves that are negligible. Their results do not matter much, but when we bring an entire piece of ourselves into a choice that will alter the flow of life as we know it, this is a Rubicon worth thinking about. Will we be willing to take on what we have set in motion?
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