A few days ago, in the afternoon, in an almost empty capital city, four young adults walked straight into the headwinds of the biggest blizzard of the year in search of a store that had rice so that their friend could fix his phone. As they boldly walked into the sparse traffic on what used to be a highway until it was covered with two feet of snow, the wind blue the snow into their faces making it feel as though they were walking through a rain of small shards of glass. Yes, one of those crazy (and debatably stupid) people was me.
Sometimes, people panic when they're in stressful situations, but, seeing as this was not a stressful situation and I was with people that I have, through the mutual experience of getting stranded in a city, grown to love very much, my mind wandered and contemplated when our muffled conversation wained as we struggled against the storm. Suddenly, on a whim, one of the four of us suggested that we all walk in a line, thereby protecting at least three people from the onslaught. As my friends filed behind me, I felt someones hands on my shoulder, and even though I could barely see amidst the flying particles of ice, I knew that my friends had my back. Even though I was bearing the brunt of the storm for the moment, I wasn't facing it alone. They were with me.
Oftentimes, life can be like this. We find ourselves in the midst of a blizzard of life, with catastrophe after catastrophe being thrown at us, stinging our faces, soaking us to the bone, and tearing us down. We strive to see the path, but, in the situation we find ourselves in, it's just not possible; there are too many clouds and too much snow clouding our path. There is no one to lead us and no one to guide us. However, if we pay attention, we realize we are not alone. We feel the reassuring touch of friends who are holding us up, following in our footstep; not leading us, but reassuring us that we are not alone; not showing us the way, but reminding us that there is one; not necessarily raising us up, but preventing us from falling further; pushing us forward.
Next time you feel all alone, you don't know what to do next, you don't know what your future holds, take a step back and peer into the past, contemplate the present. Find those people who you know are right behind you, and lean on them. Remember the times they have been their for you in the past, and remember that even though you may be lost, even though you may be wandering in a blizzard bearing the pain of a thousand crystalized projectiles to your face, those people are with you, right behind you, every step of the way. Close your eyes, feel the hands of each and every one of them on your back following you, and then forge forward into the storm.
Dude you wouldnt survive in the north all winter long.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I was being dramatic to make things interesting. Honestly, it wasn't that bad at all. ;) I was walking around without a jacket on half the time when we were messing around in the snow. ;)
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