on stakes

life can be read as an accumulation of many things - wrinkles, embarrassments, wisdom. it is also an accumulation of stakes. we lay out our lives brick by brick, and as the house we build grows higher, the more we have to lose becomes palpable. if ever the foundation gives way, we are one earthquake away from becoming the next cardboard prophet on the streets. and it's not just ourselves - it's the family, children, and loved ones that we've invited to stay with us over time. that is what is meant by stakes. stakes are the pieces of wood that we use to secure our fluttering tent in the wilderness, tying us to the place beneath our feet however temporarily. if we're not careful, they may also drive us into the ground.