The Challenge of Boulders

"Jumping from boulder to boulder and never falling,

with a heavy pack, is easier than it sounds."

Jack Kerouac

The Dharma Burns

Life is a mysterious trail, leading us on diverse paths.  With guidance or in spite of guidance we make our way over boulders.  As we work our way, we begin to pick up little pebbles as talisman.  They graduate to stones and then interesting rocks.  At some point, our baggage is so heavy we have to stop, and ask ourselves, "What no longer serves me?"

With newly found freedom with less weight, we begin to skip from boulder to boulder, building a steady rhythm which of course never lasts.  Whether we run out of breath, vision shunted by fog, or a dead end trail, our quest confronts us.  Should I stay or should I go?

To view the journey of life, we come to realize we have options in facing our challenges:  

*  We can sit at the base of the boulder, stuck in emotion and indecision,  overwhelmed by

     our loss of stamina and fall defeated in the shadow of the stone.

*  We can gather our skills and strengths; anticipate tests and trials; exclaim threats and protests; and 

     in exhaustion reach the other side, vaguely recalling what the hike was initially about.  

*  We can recognize the boulder as an opportunity to open our heart to growth; with awareness

     carefully place our feet while observing the oneness of nature as it surrounds us; and arrive

     enhanced on the other side deeper in faith and wisdom.

Challenges are not mandatory to be experienced with pain and suffering.  When we add our trumped up emotions, creating high drama, the boulder simply grows larger  and our energy dissipates.  Take the time to discover if the boulder is one we have previously climbed.  If so, recall the lesson and apply the learned response.  Avoid creating a mountain out of a mole hill!