Hey guys, ... I came across this on another site and know that some of us are faced with difficult choices ... thought this might help put things in perspective ...
Difficulties
Defeat lies not in failing or making mistakes; rather, it lies in giving up on ourselves when we do so.
Reality is harsh. It can be cruel and ugly. Yet no matter how much we grieve over our environment and circumstances nothing will change. What is important is not to be defeated, to forge ahead bravely. If we do this, a path will open before us.
When facing adversity, we may think weve reached our limit, but actually the more trying the circumstances, the closer we are to making a breakthrough. The darker the night, the nearer the dawn. Victory in life is decided by that last concentrated burst of energy filled with the resolve to win.
Anyone can hit a wall. The anguish felt then is proof of ones desire to move forward. But all is for naught if you falter at that moment. Action that is the key to breaking through an impasse.
The economy is after all driven by people. No matter how dire the situation may be, as long as people are firm, a turnaround, revival and progress can be possible.
A persons true nature is revealed at times of the greatest adversity.
The world of Hell is a state in which life is itself painful; where anything you see makes you feel miserable. Such people need someone anyone to be at their side. They need someone who will be there for them, to listen and offer even just a few words of encouragement. Thats all it may take for the flame of life to burn brightly once again in the heart of someone who is suffering deeply. Just knowing that someone cares makes one's heart expand. by Daisaku Ikeda
God Bless,
Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Sunday 27th of November 2011 06:06:33 PM
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thank you for posting this Pappy! Many times over the years I have had to be reminded that its not how many times a person fails that is the determining factor of their integrety, its how many times they get back up to try again.
Difficulties are a given. Everyone experiences them. For us, the alcoholic, I believe they are the rungs of the ladder we must climb in our effort to stride towards spiritual development. Each one embodies its own lesson.
If there were not any difficulties, what would we use to measure our successes, acheivements, and accomplishments against? Where would the sense of joy come from when goals, dreams and desires are obtained?
No, I do not look forward to life's difficulties, but when they come I have to ask myself.. what lesson is built into this experience, so that i can utilize it as a asset instead of allowing to go to waste as a liability?
My experience has been that the God of my understanding doesn't give me any real test, but simply provides the same lesson over and over until I learn it... then we are on to the next one in life.
John
-- Edited by John on Monday 28th of November 2011 05:19:58 AM
I would not have posted this in all likelyhood except there was one individual, on this site, that came to mind when I first read it ... Someone whom I thought it might benefit ... someone currently experiencing a 'trial-of-life' that needed a little encouragement ... I don't know how, but sometimes I find myself wearing 'blinders' like a horse or mule, and then suddenly someone will say or do something that helps me be rid of them ... Then I can see and think more clearly ...
You have certainly done that for me in the past, and for that , I am grateful ...
God Bless, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
The anguish felt then is proof of ones desire to move forward. But all is for naught if you falter at that moment. Action that is the key to breaking through an impasse. 
