The Mountains of Life

Yesterday, I wrote about saying "yes" to life. I have seen this theme appear and reappear lately in my life. So, I feel it's only right to write about this in greater depth.

I've mentioned briefly on here how I found a church in San Diego that I just love. It's been the church that I've searched my whole life for. And believe me, I've done a lot of searching. "Religion" or "spirituality" has always been a journey for me. A very personal one. For now, I'll just leave it at that. But this past Sunday in church, the focus was on mountains.

The passages chosen were all about mountains and then there was the sermon. There was one phrase that really hit me, "Mountains are what spiritually grow us." I started thinking about the mountains I've had to face in my lifetime. But then I started thinking about the person I was before those mountains were placed along my path. Holy cow, I have changed!

I look back at the times when I was pessimistic. The times when I questioned my own self-worth. The times when I thought I had the worst of everything and wanted what everyone else had. Who was I? I was a young teenage girl who looked at life's mountains as defeat. Instead of conquering them, I allowed them to conquer me. They broke me down until nothing was left. But then, one day, I put my foot down.

I reached deep within me. I decided to look at life - to look at those mountains differently. God [the Universe] put them there for ME to CONQUER. Those mountains were there to help me grow spiritually. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically. But it was the spiritual growth that helped me take on every challenge from that day on.

The mountains of my life...
They grew me.
For the better.

"See every difficulty as a challenge, a stepping stone, and never be defeated by anything or anyone."
-Eileen Caddy

Friends, some people settle for the path of least resistance. They settle for the ski-lift up the mountain so they can enjoy the view at the top. But isn't the view so much better - don't we learn so much more - if we are the ones that get ourselves there? It's never too late. Change today. Say "yes." Stop settling for the path of least resistance.

And like the song I always picture my mom singing to me says...

"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,

Never settle for the path of least resistance."

-Lee Ann Womack