Ups and downs

I saw this picture several days ago and had to laugh given my experience with lines like this. Unfortunately, until this morning I don't think that I truly understood its meaning. It made me think of what we do throughout our entire lives and what keeps us going. Life is one long journey, and there are many ups and downs. The great thing about the "ups" is that when you are on top you can see where you are going, where you have been, and what your goals are. When you are climbing up, however, you can't see the top, nor anything around you. If you've ever climbed to the top of a really high hill or mountain you know what I mean. The view at the top is not just breathtaking but awe-inspiring. However, we don't stay up there long, or we never get to our final destination.

Right now I'm climbing. The problem with that is not so much the effort, but that I forgot what I had seen and lost the vision of where I was going. It's not that it's a steep climb, but that more has been put in my bag and the weight is getting me down.

That was, at least, until I remembered where I was going and why I was climbing in the first place. Faith is so powerful. It helps me to believe in the path I am taking, even though I can't see the end. Some experiences throughout my life strengthen my faith, like being at the top of the hill and being able to see so much. During the "downs" and the climb I have to rely on that faith to get me through the journey.

I don't know why I felt like sharing this thought, but I hope that it helps someone. Just remember: when in doubt, keep the faith.