I recently went on a hike on a trail just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. What started out as a short excursion turned out to be a five mile trek across some challenging trails. It occurred to me while I was on my journey, that life too can be that way.
I was just going to go on a short jaunt for a small part of the marked trail and return to my creekside chair. I started on the trail, taking a few pictures, and before I knew it, I had gone half a mile. It seemed not at all too difficult, and the posted sign said the trail was a five-mile loop, so I decided to continue.
The trail has a creek running alongside it most of the way, which allowed me to take pictures of several small waterfalls. But the fact this was a mountain trail also meant there were quite a few rocks along the way. I navigated those the best I could and continued the course.
By the time I finished the five-mile course, my shirt was thoroughly drenched with sweat and my feet were aching. It seemed that the second half of the course was the most difficult, as I have become tired of the more strenuous parts of the hike. Along that path, I reasoned that it was a lot like life.
Over the past three years or so, life has seemed to be one big life event after another. Just when things seem to be settling down, something else comes along. Some of the events are in quick succession and some seem to take a while to develop. But just like the trail I was traveling, there are some parts that are easier to navigate than others.
Once you reach a certain point of the trail, you realize you’re going to have to continue until its conclusion. In life, when you are experiencing some unsettling event, you realize you’re going to have to see that situation through until its end. It’s important to pace yourself and not let the utter exhaustion get to you. It’s necessary to take a short break from time-to-time and rest. Above all else, keep your faith strong and trust the journey.
David Lee
David Lee 