Obstacles on the road

Sometimes, the road of life is smooth and easy.

Sometimes, it get's a little bit rocky and uncomfortable.  The road isn't too bad, but it's not good either.  It's certainly not bad enough to consider turning around, retracing your steps and finding a better road.  So you stay on it telling yourself that the road could get better any time now.  You never know what's up ahead.  You chug along.

Then sometimes, the road becomes almost impassable.  Life gets really, really hard. 

Some obstacles on the road give you no choice but to stop.  And think.  What is this road?  Where is it going?  How badly do I want to get there?  Is this the only road that I can take?  Could I try another path?  Would I prefer to go somewhere else?

As frustrating as they are, the obstacles on the road -- especially the really big ones -- give us an opportunity to think, to regroup and to question our goals and assumptions.  Then we can strengthen our resolve to continue on this path or to try another one.