My husband and I went to the gym to work out for the first time since the pandemic. I think it went well. However, when I got on the exercise machine, my legs immediately hurt. I knew that I should have stretched before I started, and it was probably why I was hurting. I have never really paid attention to stretching before, so I am not really sure if that was the difference or not. What I did notice though was that after I started to workout, I knew why the burning had started and so I just told myself to keep going. After I kept going for a little while, it burning sensation worked itself out and I was able to feel okay on the exercise machine.
I realized that it was good metaphor for live that most people don’t really follow. Essentially, life can be painful. Sometimes it is like a tunnel, I can’t go around it, I can’t bypass it or find a different way. I must go through that tunnel. When I get to that half way point, it is dark and scary. I won’t be able to see the light at the beginning or the end. I will need to have faith that I will be able to get to the end. I will need to believe it. Some people will do anything to avoid the pain and they get lost. They never find their way out of the tunnel. Life is all about shadows. Then, there are people who understand that going through the pain will lead to something at the other end of the tunnel. So, they keep going, they believe and find their way into the light.
I can’t judge anyone. Today, when I started to feel the burning in my legs, I wanted to stop. It’s difficult to face pain. It’s difficult to believe. Having faith and choosing the road less travelled is one of the most challenging things anyone can do. I know because even though I have chosen that path, I fail all the time. I fall and get lost in the darkness almost constantly, but I think it is worth it. I keep trying and sometimes I find my way out of the tunnel.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
