Stuck Between Mud and Sun

Sometimes you are walking in a straight line, and then you suddenly come to a crossroads. Each one is 100 percent different from the other, and each has the potential to make changes in life.

One road looks smooth, and the sun shines on every part of the road, making the path easy to see. There is not a cloud in the azul sky. The path is clear, with no broken branches carelessly askew on the ground and gravel is kept and neat. It looks seemingly perfect and straightforward.

The second road looks rough and mean. Leaves are scattered on ground, and there is mud and muck. You have to jump over fallen trees and the sky is cloudy, with a forecast for rain and thunderstorms. You know your feet will get dirty if you choose this road.

As you are looking at these two roads, sometimes you wish you could go back so you wouldn't have to make a decision. The road you have traveled was familiar and known. There were no questions or uncertainty. But that road has already been walked, so you can't go backward, only forward.

There is hesitancy in the upcoming decision. At times, you want things to be clear and bright, like the smooth road, but sometimes that road has the potential to be gilded. You know that not everything on that road really is perfect. In fact, you know there is the chance for something bad at the end of the road, or good. This road is easy, but you know you are going the easy way because you are afraid of hardship and the unknown. You can deny pain here, and no one will know.

You know the second road is going to be tough by looking at it. There are no questions or hesitancy about the obstacles that will come as you walk forward. But, you question if you have the strength and faith to trudge forward, knowing you will fall on the way. The chief worry is whether you will be able to pick yourself back up after you fall over a branch or become stuck in the mud.

The decision is approaching quickly. You look to the smooth road, then at the rough road. No one else can make this decision, and frankly, you know you are an indecisive person.

As you look to the roads, you are thinking to yourself. You think the rough road is hard, but the pain is real. You know you will scrap your knees when you fall, but you also know that pain will subside eventually. The smooth road will cause no heartache, loss or pain. But you also think that life without suffering is not living. You know you will not grow or "roughen" up with this road, but you are scared of that time when you know you will be hurt.

So, do you choose pain and reality or fantasy and denial?

Choose wisely. You cannot go back.