Have you ever been pulled under a waterfall – and I’m not talking metaphorically (though we will get to that)? J
Years ago, while on a college study abroad to the Philippines, our group was taken to a beautiful lake/swimming hole in the rain forest. It was absolutely gorgeous! The water was clear and at one end fell a beautiful waterfall.
We swam around the waterfall to a cave behind and were then invited to climb aboard a raft and be pulled through the falling water.
Looking back now I wonder, who thought this was a good idea?!
Water has a lot of power and in a waterfall, can get very heavy! It’s a strong force to deal with, as I soon discovered. As we held on to the rope I felt the crushing force of the water pounding over my head and back almost pinning me to the raft. I remember gasping as the wind was knocked out of me and I struggled for breath. Those few seconds seemed to last forever!
What a relief to finally be pulled out, to breathe deeply and recover!
Maybe you haven’t experienced an actual waterfall pounding over the top of you, but I bet you’ve had life experiences that have felt the same or worse, where the weight of life’s challenges threaten to overcome you. It’s hard to breath and you struggle to find air. And it feels as if it will never end.
In my work, I have come to the realization that those who overcome with grace know something powerful.
It is this:
*They know their “why.”
Do you? Do you know your “why?”
Why do you do what you do? Why do you get up in the middle of the night to tend to a crying baby or stay up late waiting up for your teenager? Why do you get up early to exercise? Why do you get up day after day to work at your job or business? Why do you say ‘yes’ to some things and ‘no’ to others?
Here in the United States we are celebrating President’s day today, to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two great Presidents of our country. These were men who knew their why and were able to overcome great obstacles in the creation and development of this free nation. Without the knowledge of why they were doing what they were doing, I don’t know that they would have been successful.
Do you know your ‘why?’
If time has caused you to forget, I encourage you to re-discover your ‘why.’ Remember the meaning behind what you do. Let that knowledge give you hope, strength and direction, for you are needed!
With love,
