Back So Soon

I did not think I would come back to this so early. I guess it's been a little more than a month? God had his mysterious plans for me. I can't say I fully enjoyed the ride at the time, but, in retrospect, it is definitely something I could smile about.

I am now in a new environment, a new place with new people, but the same old self with the same spiritual walk. I can say with confidence that God has especially been speaking clearly to me through the Bible for the past few days, a lot of encouragements and promises.

The reason I wanted to write today was because I was reminded of a story I have read in the past. I read an excerpt from a book that recalled a dream. A man was in a boat floating in a lake. Suddenly a large wall came up in front, blocking his path. Then God asked how He should let the man pass. The man did not ask to go around the wall, nor did he ask for the wall to collapse. Rather, the man asked God to let him go over. Thus, the lake started overflowing with water, and he traveled safely above.

I could not remember a time I had overcome hardship. In my prayer, I always asked for ways out, less work, less suffering, less hardship. I really do not think it is too bad to ask for such help, but at times, I now know for sure that God wants us to overcome.

Playing the game to break the game, maybe? RISE

If— By Rudyard Kipling

If— By Rudyard Kipling
(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)

If you can keep your head when all about you
   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
   But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
   Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
   And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
   If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
   And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
   Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
   And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
   And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
   And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
   To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
   Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
   Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
   If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
   With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
   And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!