Life’s a Fairground

A couple of days ago my blog-friend Wynne, on her excellent blog ‘Surprised by Joy’ wrote about her ‘go-to metaphor for life’: mountain climbing, a subject in which she has both knowledge and expertise.

She talks about taking one step at a time, ensuring that you have rest breaks, team work, self-care… with helpful insight and challenge. She finishes with the challenge: ‘What’s your go-to metaphor for life?’

Readers responded… Life’s a football game, a running event, a swimming race. I wanted to respond…

I thought of the life-metaphors I’d used – life’s a journey with hills and valleys, smooth roads and rocky paths… a school with a timetable and lessons I’ve not always learnt… a year with seasons, a day with twenty-four hours… Yesterday I even thought that life was a kipper!

My Christian heritage added… Life is a battle where I need spiritual armour… a garden with plants and weeds growing together… a building needing firm foundations… a flock of sheep with a good shepherd…

I have two favourite go-to metaphors:

Life’s a choir… singing together in harmony (or discord!)… the united purpose… interpreting melody and lyrics… expressing emotion… following a conductor… often returning to ‘All God’s creatures got a place in the choir, Some sing low and some sing higher…’

Life’s a theatre… Characters each with a role to play… life in the spotlight… working behind the scenes… the critical audience… the plot – at Easter particularly remembering how apparent tragedy can have resolution and a happy ending.  

In yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal: ‘Pleasurewood Hills to give star attraction rollercoaster £1m revamp’ …Today ‘Life’s a fairground’…

Some are on life’s rollercoaster, others the scary ghost train; some prefer the gentle children’s rides… bright lights, loud music… skill on the rifle range or playing a game of chance? The enjoyable… candyfloss and hot dogs… is often unhealthy.

There’s observers and participants, adventurous and timid, but all are in the fairground, choosing their rides, waiting in queues, paying the price. At the end of the day, we come home…

You can find Wynne’s excellent original post on https://wynneleon.com/2025/03/26/my-go-to-metaphor/