Did you ever notice when you are in a hurry you will get held up by road construction or find yourself behind the slowest driver in the world with no place to pass ? Art Linkletter is quoted as saying “Life is what happens to you while you are making plans”. We all have good days and bad days. We all have unexpected problems and we all have our own way of dealing with them. Problems or obstacles along the road of life are unavoidable. Sometimes we are the cause of our problems as a consequence of our own actions and sometimes problems arise through no fault of our own. Problems and obstacles are one thing we all have in common.

When you look at successful people it is very easy to assume they do not have the same problems you do. Why do you think that ? Is it because they have money ? Fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness.

The tabloids are full of stories revealing the problems associated with fame and fortune. No money (although the lack of it is probably the main reason blamed for a lot of our problems.) does not or is not the solution. It will not prevent you from getting behind a slow driver. It will not make you well when you are sick and it will not bring back a loved one you have lost.

In my opinion the best way to overcome obstacles and problems is to maintain the right frame of mind. Problems come in different degrees of severity and last for different periods of time. Remember that everyone has had to or will have to deal with similar problems so you are not the first and will not be the last. The world or life is not picking on you. The right frame of mind is not feeling sorry for yourself. Self pity keeps many people from overcoming obstacles. This is easier said than done. Feeling sorry for your self is very human and understandable but it can do nothing to help and only weakens your resolve. One of my hardest obstacles was when my brother became ill and we kept him home for three years. I couldn’t sleep at night because he was subject to seizures. Watching a loved one struggle with an illness and feel the helplessness associated with your inability to help was the worst experience of my life. I had been a problem solver my whole life but I couldn’t solve this problem. I didn’t overcome this problem. I only survived it. I only did that through faith which was stretched to the limit in my effort to understand what was going on. I tell you this so you know how important it is to persevere even when your obstacle is beyond your understanding. Life is all about us persevering. Just have faith and keep on keeping on. God Loves You. In good times and Bad.

Luke Sept 25th 2010