So we are 23 days in the New Year. Each New Year brings new opportunities. Many have made their resolution knowing they can start afresh. We set our goals to lose weight, start a business, finish school, save more, be happy, etc.
We are running full steam ahead and three months down the road (or shorter) the bridge (an interruption) comes into focus. The questions begin: Do we cross it or turn in the opposite direction? As I stated, in my prior blog running for me mimics life. I left off coming to the bridge that I hadn't run since April 2014. What was my decision? Did I run the bridge? Did I turn around or find another route?
My Bridge Moment:
As I came to the bridge, I began to talk to myself about pushing forward. “You can do this, it’s not that bad (lying to yourself helps), you’re strong (true) and you are almost over (lie)”. Just kidding never lie, but jokes go a long way. Self- encouragement is definitely a power pack. When I made it to the top, I felt so good. It was downhill full speed ahead. It felt so good; I ran a mile further and forgot I had to go back. “The Bridge”.
The bridge symbolizes the issues of life that happen and will happen until the day we fly away. A bridge can be anything in our lives that disrupts our steady flow; an argument, unforgiveness, unpaid bills, being laid off, illness, death, lost love, etc. I have found that there aren't many ways to get around our bridge moments. We can do our best to avoid them by ignoring or anesthetize the pain of the disruption. In the end we just have to go over the bridge. On my way back over the bridge, as I ran to the top, a bystander asked me “Having a good run”? Did she see pain on my face or my determination? My answer is……..
Can life still be good at the same time something bad is happening? Yes, life is still good. Each of us has to find the strength to encourage ourselves. We have to understand there is a purpose to everything. Yes, even the bad. It might not feel good but we are building strength. What we go through can encourage others. Could it be that your bridge experience closes the gap on an issue, injustice or an epidemic? If you can make it, so can I. When I think about life’s frustrations, I remember the words of a Rev Paul Jones song “All of my good days outweigh my bad days, I won’t complain”.