Rough roads..!

I’d been to a hill station which I’d visited previously over two decades ago, but what a difference there was now; when I’d gone there the first time, there was hardly any road going up to the mountains and it had been a steep and dangerous climb. I’d taken the car, but very often found the tires skidding and me clinging on for dear life thinking I’d topple into the valley below. But we had plodded on, over dead trees and rocks and stones and also little streams till I reached the magnificent lake above and there I was spellbound by the beauty and majesty of the still blue waters.
It was one of the most spectacular views but it had stretched me to the limit to reach there.
But this time it was different: A broad road had been carved into the mountain and the car I was in, was driven without any difficulty right to the top, and there it was, the lake, but oh how different!
The water was covered with dirt, mounds of waste and floating plastic bags. The silence I remembered was now a distant memory as I heard loud talking, and Bollywood music spoiling the once serenity of the hills.
The new road had spoiled the exclusivity the place once had. It had brought in the crowds!
But what was it I remembered?
Was it the long tedious climb, I’d made the last time?
Was it the number of hours more I’d spent on the road?
No! What I remembered was the beauty, and splendor the view afforded to me after the climb. I remembered my sense of peace and the feeling that it had been worth the strength and energy I had put in to do the distance.
That’s what happens with something of beauty, you have to work hard to reach where it is. You have to put in effort to enjoy it. It doesn’t come easy.
As I remember that arduous climb the last time, and remember me cursing as I worked up energy to do one step and another and another, I begin to think that, that is also how life gives us treats: The thing that is easy to get, offers us nothing, like the broad road I took this time. But when life is hard and difficult and makes us struggle and push our endurance then the rewards are great. And then I think, that very often we do not know what is at the end of a hard road, but God does, doesn’t He? And that is when we trust Him and walk on, knowing that at the end of our journey of life, stands a beautiful sunset, all, completely put there by Him, for us to enjoy..!

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Rough roads..!

Id been to a hill station which Id visited previously over two decades ago, but what a difference there was now; when Id gone there the first time, there was hardly any road going up to the mountains and it had been a steep and dangerous climb. Id taken the car, but very often found the tires skidding and me clinging on for dear life thinking Id topple into the valley below. But we had plodded on, over dead trees and rocks and stones and also little streams till I reached the magnificent lake above and there I was spellbound by the beauty and majesty of the still blue waters. It was one of the most spectacular views but it had stretched me to the limit to reach there. But this time it was different: A broad road had been carved into the mountain and the car I was in, was driven without any difficulty right to the top, and there it was, the lake, but oh how different! The water was covered with dirt, mounds of waste and floating plastic bags. The silence I remembered was now a distant memory as I heard loud talking, and Bollywood music spoiling the once serenity of the hills. The new road had spoiled the exclusivity the place once had. It had brought in the crowds! But what was it I remembered? Was it the long tedious climb, Id made the last time? Was it the number of hours more Id spent on the road? No! What I remembered was the beauty, and splendor the view afforded to me after the climb. I remembered my sense of peace and the feeling that it had been worth the strength and energy I had put in to do the distance. Thats what happens with something of beauty, you have to work hard to reach where it is. You have to put in effort to enjoy it. It doesnt come easy. As I remember that arduous climb the last time, and remember me cursing as I worked up energy to do one step and another and another, I begin to think that, that is also how life gives us treats: The thing that is easy to get, offers us nothing, like the broad road I took this time. But when life is hard and difficult and makes us struggle and push our endurance then the rewards are great. And then I think, that very often we do not know what is at the end of a hard road, but God does, doesnt He? And that is when we trust Him and walk on, knowing that at the end of our journey of life, stands a beautiful sunset, all, completely put there by Him, for us to enjoy..! [email protected]