"Life is Pain, Princess. Anyone who tells you differently is selling you something."

"Life is Pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling you something."

--- Dred Pirate Roberts (aka Wesley) in The Princess Bride.

Ain't that the Truth??

Quite a sobering concept indeed and it holds much truth when you step back and review the implications of such a statement being true.

All of us experience pain, despair, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, sadness, melancholy at some points in our lives.

Some have a boat load of it and when you hear their stories all you can think is "Holy cow - how does that person go on with their lives?"  "How do they get up in the morning?" "How do they seem so happy and Strong?"

Others have pieces of it and it only hits them once in a while, and it is not pervasive.  It is equally painful however and when it does hit, it challenges every fiber of their being.

Kind of scary when you think about it - no?

Do you want the good news??

Once we understand and know that life will throw these obstacles, hurdles, and roadblocks at us we are able to expect it and prepare our defenses!

Once we know that we will experience pain and despair and challenges at some point on this earth, and accept that it is inevitable, we are able to combat it and discard the issues more effectively!

Life is designed -apparently -- for us to GROW and DEVELOP and to struggle through difficult issues in order to reach the main purpose of this life on earth -- to experience JOY, Bring others LOVE and to support one another as Brothers and Sisters!

U2, the prolific and enduring rock band, has a song called "One" and it is an amazing piece of work. It envelops the message that I believe embodies the VERY REASON and Function we exist on this planet as we do today:

One love



One blood


One life


You got to do what you should


One life


With each other


Sisters and my


Brothers


One life


But we're not the same


We get to


Carry each other


Carry each other

Accept that we will hit bumps in the road but ALWAYS know that nothing is final and you can ALWAYS work through it!

Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in times of need, despair, uncertainty, pain and anxiety!  He will lead you where you need to go!  He will decide for you if you allow Him to do so and ASK Him to lead you!

He knows who you are and the path you need to follow -- and will not let you down!  But you NEED to turn it all over to Him and have the Faith and Trust that He will take care of you!

When faced with fear or stress - embrace it as a challenge that you WILL overcome, that was placed there to make you STRONGER - to make you GROW and better understand life.

We cannot possibly know what our true function is here with perfect certainty -- but I truly believe it is solely to LOVE, SUPPORT, and ASSIST each other as life gets bumpy and rough!!

That is my game plan - the Holy Spirit is my quarterback this game and when he tells me to run a button hook, or a flag pattern, or to simply block for others, that I will do for Him who knows the Plan!

Do not let fear overwhelm you - do not let anxiety cascade all over your thoughts to the point of immobilization!!!

Take on all challenges, struggles, and problems with STRENGTH and the complete and total BELIEF that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will guide you through anything.

You may not see HOW this is supposed to play out -- or why this pain you are currently experiencing is necessary - but you MUST accept it and FIGHT through it.

You are Needed!

You are Loved!

You are one of our Brothers and Sisters!

You WILL GET THROUGH this a stronger and better person!

So strap on the pads, the helmet and get the play from the Quarterback -- and know that this game does not last forever!!!  Nor does pain, or fear or sadness if we allow the Holy Spirit to take over!!!

Stay Strong!!