Big rocks

Things that went right today:

1) spent the day alone with my husband

2) went on a long hike in the Dolly Sods wilderness area of west virginia...beautiful

3) perfect weather, clear blue sky

Hiking through the Dolly Sods today was an amazing experience. I have never been in a place with such a wide variety of terrain and vegetation. Every passing mile it was like we were in a whole new place. One minute we were in thick forest and the next in a field of wild flowers. We saw ferns and snakes and crossed rivers on rock bridges. The leaves were changing colors, the sky was blue and the temperature was perfect. It really was a wonderful day in every way. I enjoyed the chance my husband and I had to talk uninterrupted, and I also enjoyed the times when we were silent. Being out in nature is the perfect time to ponder and I made an observation that taught me a lesson about life I think. Dolly Sods is very rocky. I had to watch my step to make sure I did not stumble over anything. The rocks came in all shapes and sizes and often made the hike treacherous...or at least more difficult. But here is what I noticed. The bigger rocks were obviously the most daunting. They took more effort to climb over. They could trip us up if we weren't watching for them, but at the same time they were large and easy to see. When we hit the big rocks we knew we had obstacles to overcome and had to muster some strength to confront them. BUT...they also tended to be solid. When facing steep hills they provided sturdy footholds. They were useful when crossing areas of heavy mud or streams. Even though they made the journey harder in some ways they also provided stability, tested our strength and created pathways to overcome other obstacles that we faced. The little rocks on the other hand looked far less threatening. You barely noticed they were there, until you tripped on them hidden under the brush that is. On the slopes the little rocks tended to accumulate in groups and could be deceiving. They appeared to be forming a pathway that was safe to walk on, but when you rested your weight on them they would often slide out from underneath you. As the day went on I began to see a pattern. I came to trust the big rocks more. Yes they were harder to climb, but the little rocks made for slippery slopes. At least with the big rocks you could see what you were dealing with and you could trust the outcome more. Taking your chances with the little rocks might save a step or two, but you were also more likely to fall.

I think this principle also can apply to our challenges in life. For today I will focus mainly on the temptations that we face in our character development. We're all different so we have our own personal vices. What might be a problem for one is not for another, but we all have at least one. Some of us may struggle with honesty, some with chastity, some with gluttony or sloth, others with addictions...you get the idea. But whatever our personal struggles may be, life will provide ample temptations for us to be sure. These weaknesses we have need not defeat us however. In fact they can make us stronger if we own them and tackle them head on. Even serious problems once fully recognized and bravely addressed lose much of their power over us. Just like with the big rocks. When we can see something for what it is we have a better chance of overcoming it. We can then move ahead, one tentative step at a time, until we conquer. Facing challenges can teach us a lot about our core selves and instill compassion in us for others as they fight their own battles. The process of overcoming difficulties can strengthen both our resolve and willpower as we realize that WE are more powerful than our vices. We learn to believe in ourselves. Climbing big rocks stretched our muscles and built them up so we were stronger for the next climb. So it is with our challenges, and the big ones that we encounter can help us as we face other temptations later on. Lessons learned from one struggle can be transferred down the road to form a clear course through the next one. The more serious damage to our characters often comes from the smaller things. "Just this once won't hurt right?" "It's only a little lie" "No one will know" "I'll do better tomorrow" We are in the most danger when we are in denial. Or when we linger on the edge of right and wrong. We know that problems are there, but because in grey areas we cannot (or will not) see them clearly, we ignore them until they reach out and grab us one day. Like the little rocks, these "little" character discrepancies tend to accumulate over time. We can be moving along through life with the illusion that all is well and suddenly find ourselves slipping and careening downward wondering what hit us. A pathway built on little rocks cannot be relied on to be sound. A character built on "little" misdeeds can likewise lead to a crash. But when we do fall it is comforting to know that we can always pick ourselves up again, cast our eyes around for some sure foundations and take a new step in the right direction. I am thankful this day for the challenges that life offers us and the opportunities we all have to keep learning and growing each and every day.