Stumbling?

On the road, especially the Narrow Road, each person encounters obstacles that frequently cause stumbles. If this happens while running, these obstacles cause stumbles to turn into actual tripping and very painful falls. At first, the usual reaction is to curse the obstacle and then attempt to kick it out of the way with some amount of frustration and real anger. The kicking of this annoying obstacle only causes toes to throb with pain, a pain that lasts much longer than the mere tripping. The traveler may get up from the fall with reluctance, and look around to see who saw this klutzy mistake and whom it is that should be blamed. By now, the disruption of the pre-arranged plan to go down the road is so delayed that the individual may just hurriedly stomp away, hoping to never stumble or fall again.

Now this thought immerges with a new plan, “Hm-m-m, maybe I had better slow down. I don’t want to get tripped up again; that was really humiliating, painful and very inconvenient.” Sure enough, due to the slower pace and the suspicion of more debris, another obstacle is spotted up ahead. This time, the remedy is to detour around this thing that is obviously going to be in the way. To avert another delay and mishap, there is a quick left turn taken to accomplish the task of avoiding that pesky rock, or whatever it is. Whoops, that easy jog to the left was straight off the cliff that just wasn’t completely visible. With great pain, crushing exhaustion and bitterness the accident victim manages to climb back up to the road right where it was at the point of coming to that horrible rock, smack in the middle of the path.

Still hoping to avoid a fall, another brilliant plan, “I’ll jump over that thing and I won’t even have to deal with it.” Well, stumbling is one thing, but missing a jump is a totally different casualty. More pain and now tears of frustration and down right rage. “WHO put that thing in front of MY path, anyway? I don’t deserve to stumble or trip, let alone a crash.”

Another new strategy is formulated, “This time I’m just going to stop when I get close to one of those obstructions.” Sure enough, one of those things is quickly encountered but this time all movement stops in order to circumvent whatever it is that will surely ruin everything by interfering with the very fine plan that was carefully crafted by the pilgrim. But wait a minute, the journeyer recalls a method that he had read about in a guide book that he kind of remembers. He ponders, “Didn’t I read somewhere that we should PICK UP these things when they come at us on our path?” What it said seemed like a joke, who could get serious about instructions that say to hold on to something that is obviously a big hindrance? Why would anyone listen to such teachings? Why would anyone pick up a rock that is in the road tripping us up, delaying travel and making everything hard and even painful?

Obviously the traveler cannot just stop moving nor backtrack over such a debris-strewn road but there is another big rock that is just lying in wait just ahead. Hey, that doesn’t actually look like a boulder as it gets closer in view. It’s a more of a large, kind of colorful object that seems less round and more oval shaped. It is still right in the middle of the path, and it looks even heavier than a big stone that still has to be addressed by getting over it, or maybe picking it up to move it out of the way.

Another decision is, “I’ll pick it up, even though I know that the weight of it will make my arms and back really sore and may even cause me to fall down from sheer exhaustion. But oh well, it can’t be any worse than crashing down another cliff. And I really have heard of this technique working for some other people following the guide book up ahead on this path.”

This time there is a firm resolution to hold on tight to this oblong burden and to really make some progress on the trip, in spite of having to carry the heavy thing along. The weight seems easier to balance when it is fully embraced close to the body, like carrying an infant. It is even better to use the whole body to wrap around the entire circumference in order to carry it in the most efficient manner reducing the effort required by quite a bit. Good body mechanics always makes lifting an easier burden.

But what is this? During the embrace, this heavy egg shaped thing squeezes open and reveals that there is something inside. It is not a rock at all, it is one of those treasure filled eggs that people talked about in the guide. It is packed with goodies that are sweet, refreshing, nourishing and invigorating. Yes, this is what those other pilgrims who had reached their destination had described that seemed so crazy. It really was just like it was explained that by picking it up and embracing it would make the chore easy, almost light. And the goodies for each squeeze makes the whole trip like a refreshing picnic, just a walk in the park. There certainly must be more big things sitting on the road ahead on this journey.

New plan, “Every time I spot an obstacle or even when I just fall over one, I am going to pick it up and hug it with my whole body, right away.” Sure enough, each and every thing in the way of making progress up the narrow road, without exception, is filled with so many goodies that to complain would be absolute madness. The bigger it seems, the more sweetness it contains, if the embrace is as robust as the treasure it contains.

Hey, here is an even better idea. Why not actually seek out these hidden treasures, they are certainly plentiful and available for anyone willing to utilize this technique. There are probably even goodies inside those rocky mountains up ahead; climbing them will seem like so much play, when that revitalizing refreshment springs forth from the many crevices Before the experience of the treats this would never have been considered when crossing over those rugged looking mountains.

So, what is there to complain about in our stumblings? Doesn’t it seem rather silly to delay our trip with tantrums over every little obstacle when we learn that it is only by these obstacles that we may indulge in their honey-like goodness? Would it not seem imprudent to seek anything but these burdens, which are so generously provided and very necessary to sustain us in getting to our ultimate destination? I think we can all answer this, knowing that it is the truth and that those who have believed that this is the Way to finish the race have received an unspeakable sweetness that will last for an eternity.