Hermit Crab or Eagle

It's nice to be sheltered from the rain.  It's nice to feel warm and safe, but does that make us grow?   If we never feel the sting of rejection and heartache of failure, in what way will we learn to fly?  How will we get the strength to leave the nest, when there is no reason to?  Will we sit on our perch up high watching as others feel the wind beneath their wings?  Will we sit motionless day after day as we long for the time when we can feel that way? Are we going to wait for others to carry us to where we want to be?

Having a life where the air bursts to life in flight cannot be attained if the fear of failure is not faced.  Freedom and self assurance is a product of stepping out when you aren't sure if you have the strength needed to carry you to safety.  It means trying and failing, but trying again.  It means getting hurt, but standing back up, brushing yourself off and moving on.  It means dreaming a dream and trying to see that dream through.  You may not always succeed.  You may struggle, but what is life without the fight?  What is this life without the overcoming of obstacles and the beauty of pain turned into strength?  Sometimes I wonder why there must be so much fight in this life, but then I remember, there will surely come freedom in that soon to be flight.

We are not born to stay tucked away in a shell.  We are born to break free and leave the remnants of that shell on the beach.  We are to explore and find new homes as we grow.  If we don't, we will end up cramped and suffocated, because we are too afraid to leave.  The more time passes, the less we move, the more we die inside.  We can let our insecurities, the opinions of others or circumstances of life drive us into a hermit-like life, or we can wake up tomorrow, push ourselves out of that shell and wade into the water.  What's it gonna be?

The Road Less Traveled

How can we be sure that the path we have chosen is the path we should be on?  Ever wonder what would happen if you had taken a different path?  If you had taken a different job, moved somewhere else, not been in certain relationships, or gone to school somewhere else?  Life would be completely different.

Hopefully, the road taken less is the road that isn't good or just not quite right.  Hopefully, we can have the foresight to see which path will lead to disaster or sometimes even worse, mediocrity.  And hopefully, if we are already on that path that was just easy to take or convienent, we gain the wisdom and muster the courage to get off of it.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to get off of that road that is filled with less than what God wants for us.  We may see that it isn't right, but don't get off because there doesn't seem to be an alternative.  We may think it isn't that bad and convince ourselves we are happy, but deep down we want more.  We know we deserve more.  Or maybe, we just can't fathom what more could look like.  We may have never seen what a road that is foreign and looks scary can produce.  It's really a whole world of possibilites, adventures and renewed strength.

The road less traveled is hard.  It poses challenges we may believe we aren't ready to face.  It is painstakingly difficult at times, but the fruit of the determination to press forward...is so very sweet and amazing.  And God is right there to provide the courage we need to go into the unknown armed with all he has to offer.  He knows that we will never truly know ourselves until we get off of the road others have tread for us.  Until we decide to let him be the protector in this life.  Until we let him lead us through the vast regions of our souls.  I love it.  Life can be so exciting if we let it be!