A few weeks ago we headed out on a camping trip. An occurrence that I’ve had a lot in my life, but not one I’ve had lately was the winding roads. My son riding in the backseat didn’t remember taking such a zig zag trek before. Especially as it was misty, cloudy, and dusk. It left my son feeling a little queasy as we stretched on for a few miles. As I made sure he was ok, and reassured him we were almost out of this stretch he couldn’t quite see it coming. Life can be a lot like that. For me these past few years have seemed like we were traveling that long windy road, and I like my son don’t see where that is coming to an end. No matter how much we’re reassured it should we can’t always find the spot within us to reassure it will. That’s the consistent part of life is that we don’t usually get to know. Yet we have to tread on no matter how difficult the terrain.
So, it’s important to remember that as you reach that point on the hike that appears straight up don’t give up. There is a light at the end of that path, and if you need to stop to catch your breath then do so. It doesn’t mean that five steps later you won’t feel the same, but the more you try the more endurance you build up. However, with that endurance comes the next challenge, the next winding road, or the next hike that is even steeper. It will be easy to forget that you’ve been here before, felt the same way, and made it out. And in that moment even if you remember it probably won’t be very encouraging. You’ll get through it.
More importantly is don’t forget to take it all in. Chances are you are surrounded by something incredible, and some significant awesomeness. So, don’t forget to take it all in. I Iike to think of how the scanner takes it’s time as it goes over the whole area. Often longer than seems necessary, but it doesn’t want to miss the details or the small things. Live life like a scanner. Not one looking for defects, but one that doesn’t want to miss a thing.
