Sparks of Light

Slice of Life: Day 9

I came across a quote from Dr. Suess today; Today is your day; your mountain is waiting. Optimists and pessimists may disagree on what the great writer is saying. Some may see mountains as a roadblock, stampeding their quest, an arduous climb or chore that can literally take your breath away. I believe Suess views mountains as a mark or symbol of achievement, something that, if you lived long enough, you realize will always be there.

There's an honesty to this quote that speaks of unrelenting hardships, but not impossible ones. This is what I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me truly means. It's not about winning games but knowing you have a spiritual push when facing adversity. Paul wrote this either during or while homeless, and he knew Christ had his back, and it wasn't going to be by his own strength that would get him to the top of the mountain.

The hard truth in our proverbial mountain climbs reminds me of one of my favorite lyrics from Bono; It's not a hill, it's a mountain as we start out the climb. I always loved the brutal honesty. Bono isn't sugar-coating anything. As inferred later in the song, he's saying it can be a tough road to the light – the light being your goal, dream or simply your truth. At the end of the day, road, or your life, it comes down to the light being whatever darkness consumes you, preventing you from moving forward. Doing what's right, following dreams, standing when everyone sits, is a mountain. No hills. Mat Kearney sings, Nothing worth anything goes down easy. We don't grow from easy.

Bono finishes with another one of my favorite lines: Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light. Wow. Within every inch of darkness, there are always sparks of light. It may take a mountain to reach it, to see, to feel it, and you may have to face your worse fears, but there's always light. Sometimes it's found in things we fear. You'll never overcome them if you don't start your climb. 

But I have your back.

rg

*Photography by Shutterstock