Striving till the End

Embarking on a monumental, life-changing journey involves a beginning—a moment where the decision is made to pursue something—and an end, whether it be any form of monetary or material gain, or simply death itself. Whatever the end may be, we are sure to find the beginnings difficult and tedious, and the task itself challenging throughout, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

If one subscribes to the opinion that the pursuit of something great is impossible due to perceived shortcomings, then one might as well say that gravity is too strong to even arise from the bed. Absurd as it may seem, since we rise each morning to face the new day’s challenges and delights, we don’t lock ourselves in bed and refuse to move. Yet, when we wish to achieve something, we often forget the challenges and perseverance required.

I am reminded of the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes, “Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.” So often, we take pride in our works and pursuits to the point of defeat when they go unrecognized, causing us to abandon them. I’m guilty of this on more than one occasion.

Solomon reminds us that pride and recognition are not the goals. Instead, there must be a fundamental driving force that spurs not only the initial pursuit but also the drive to see it through to fruition.

What a shame it is to pursue something solely for the sake of fame or popular acceptance, driven by the praises of others or material rewards alone. In the midst of cheers and celebration, we lose sight of the goal, and our pursuits end as dead as they were before they were conceived. What was it founded in?

It’s so disappointing nowadays to expect instant answers and immediate results, and to believe we can leave the striving to someone lesser deserved. How foolish that is. Patience and perseverance are where growth takes place, and they should be embraced along with the suffering and striving.

Let’s reframe our pursuits to fit godly goals and forget the deception of false praise and support from those who would leave you for dead had you chose a path not aligned to theirs.

Clouds

As they drift along, when you see a cloud, you say “that’s a cloud,” because you know what a cloud looks like. Though it would take many shapes; a warm rain, harsh hail, frigid snow, electrified and deadly. But it is still a cloud. Will you then say that one cloud is less beautiful than any other? Or that it does not belong or is misshapen? We welcome the rain and fear the storms. But the cloud does not discriminate; it does what clouds do. And so consider a human, you see someone, and say “that is another person.” But you don’t know what storms they may bring, what warm rain or cool shade they may offer, or whether they’re here to harm or to help. They are who they are, and they do what they do. Now look beyond the flesh and vapor, to see deeper, to see what’s behind it all; a beauty, invisible and mysterious. Beyond the hate, beyond the fear.

There is a fear in the unknown, a terrible anxiety.

How is a person like a cloud, or a cloud like a planet, or a planet like a galaxy? These all painted on one canvas for all to see. But this canvas, that which holds it all together, is unseen.

Does it scare you?
Or do you take comfort in it?

The patterns, the shapes, reminders both subtle and bold. Take a moment and have a closer look.

Clouds passing, one-by-one.
It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
Now don’t be afraid, just breathe deeply and remember to let go.

“Regard yourself as a cloud.” – Alan Watts

Searching

I thought I knew what I was looking for

I got caught up in my own pleasures

The drinks

The women

Loneliness

Disorder

Then I found you

You spoke to me subtly, words without form

You said to me, “follow me”

But you didn’t force me

You were patient

You were kind

I didn’t follow you

Your call was so gentle, so weak, so deep

The echoes would resonate, when I wake, or when I sleep

“Follow me” you’d say, and wait patiently

Like a parent watching a child, with loving eyes

You protected me, you had a purpose for me

You protected me, but did not punish me

Life has been just

I am paying my dues, to be with you

How could I have known?

You had a plan all along

And now, I finally see you

I have turned to you, locked in your gaze

I can’t look away, you’re too big, too beautiful, too obvious

I found you in the sun

I found you in the water

I found you in the air

I found you in music

I found you in pictures

I found you in nature

I found you in people

I found you in everything I looked at

There is no escaping you

You are in me, a part of me

You are in them too

In the stars above

The roots below

Don’t give up on us

Keep us going

Let us experience everything

Russell E. Taylor