The Wind

My journey has brought me to a beautiful land -- the sand is smooth beneath my feet, a vast ocean spreads in glorious depths on my left, sheltering cliffs tower on my right, and the sun glistens on everything I see.  Its light fills the path with a feel of perfection and detailed beauty.  Yet one thing seems to mar the scene -- the wind blows terribly strong, full in my face.  Not a cold wind, but of such force that it stings my eyes and at moments hinders my sight of the grandeur before me.  It numbs my face so I must make effort to smile, and takes my breath away so I struggle to sing.  Moving forward against this powerful gale seems nearly impossible, yet I look back and see that my footprints trace a trail that moves steadily onward, just as it should.  I feel fresh energy as I push back into the wind, knowing that I am strong enough to face it, and can only get stronger as I do.  I am in some moments frustrated that my travels don't go faster, but when I take note of the present beauty, I see there is no need to hurry through it.  My goal is not so much to get to my destination, but to learn and enjoy all I can on the journey so I will have something to tell when I reach the end.  So I press on into the wind, knowing that it must eventually shift to help me along, or blow itself out altogether.

(Written October 31, 2012)

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair . . .

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:8, 17-18