There is a harsh reality to life. I do not think my life is unique or special. In a lot of ways I have it better than most. I know the reality of hope. I have people in my life that care deeply. I am in a place where things are moving in the right direction. In this context, there is an endless list of the positive yet it is the negative that often overwhelms me.
I wish I could say that I have been able to rise above the obstacles and challenges. I can imagine writing stories dominated by hope and the positive. Yet life is not perfectly smooth. In fact, it is full of potholes, rough patches, and evil surprises. Each time I reach what I think is my limit, another surprise tears at my soul.
As I reflect on a morning with no answers, I find myself coming back to familiar truths. They include the following.
Acknowledging one’s sate of being is opens the door for Hope. I know I should feel differently, but my God cry echo’s David’s; “Look at me and help me! I’m all alone and in big trouble.” (Psalm 25.16)
Even as I cry, I can hear the whisper of God and friends. “We care. We are here. We are willing to be part of the journey that comes next.” I realize that the voices have always been present. Just because I am unable to hear them, I should never assume that they are missing.
As painful as Life’s evil arrows are, the question is not about the fact that I have been hit or that I am bleeding. The question then and now remains the same. In this moment, what will I choose?
I have come to appreciate that while preparation for the future is important, it is critical to remain in the present. Life is shaped in this spot. Everything that is real is here – God, friends, and hope. It is also the place where we have the freedom and accountability to choose. Seize the moment.
