LONG TIMES

Along the road we find to follow there are never any days where perfection rains on our lives. We must endure the struggle as they come and hope they don't cripple our lives.

Why do we have so much trouble reaching the place to see where life is not perfect for others either. That can be very difficult to always embrace.

But that is part of the journey we all must make. One that we can't stop remembering though some try.

I've been struggling lately in my life with this one particular issue. It involves another person and having to accept all the problems in that person's life.

We are very close, but have totally different lives. There are so many things that separate us.

Only we do have a need to be involved with each other and I have learned to embrace this person despite these differences. Part of it is the Lord's doing.

I have to admit there was a time when this would not have been possible for me. I was not raise in a climate where love and forgiveness were known or practice.

So naturally it would be hard for me to be the epitome of either in the process. I am grateful that the Lord has slowly help to guide me in a way that has made this a part of life I could embrace.

And with this particular person it has stretch my concept of acceptance way passed any point I had experienced before. Still I find myself comfortable with the transition.

Perhaps this is the essence of real spiritual growth in one's spirit. When we can reach beyond ourselves to where we should be.

It can be challenging and difficult, but we must do it at times. We can resist and some do. But in the end we will truly only find peace and know some sense of being blessed if we accept the path chosen for us by the Lord.

This doesn't always come without pain. It doesn't always come without suffering, but when it does come to our lives in ways that helps, the light always heals.

Each time the journey is long it can make us weary. And it can strain us to the point we will can not appreciate where we have yet to grow.

The horizon lying before us that we must reach often includes a few steps where we haven't traveled before. Moving slowly and inhaling what is offered.

Along the way finding what was there all along that we missed in ourselves and others.