This Hill is Dangerous!
“Careful! This hill is dangerous!” From time to time, well-meaning people try to protect you from experiencing failures the way they may have, by trying to scare you away from following your own dreams. They try to
talk you out of climbing into the ring or quitting your job to follow your passion. They want you to trade in your chance at really living by using the promise of security and the threat of pain. It’s the same thing Jesus rebuked Peter for. “Lord, I don’t want you to go to the cross; even though that’s your purpose, because I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Uh unh.
You realize that if Jesus had listened to Peter, he would have died an obscure carpenter and most of us reading this wouldn’t even live where we live?
I recognize that these people are only trying to spare you from some failure they may have experienced themselves. But their failure doesn’t make them an expert on your success.
History is in the Dangerous Men
History is in the hands of dangerous men. It’s always written by those who turn their backs on comfort; who curl their lip scornfully at the idea of staying home. It’s written by those who hop on a ship, point the prow at the horizon and ride full speed into the storm they know is there, beard waving in the sea spray, blinking away salt and sweat. No matter how epic the contest, nobody remembers the onlookers. Only the participants get into the record books.
I’m telling you that the passion inside you, the fire to spend so much time on something you get paid either very little, or nothing to do, was written into your DNA when you were conceived. The battle you were born to fight, requires that you be driven to it, that you be willing to take it up without the guarantee of a reward at the end.
Failure is Real but My Soul Needs to Climb This Hill
Because failure is a real possibility. Pain is a definite promise along the way. But you were born for your struggle, designed for it, made to only be happy if you’re pursuing your passion. And anything and anyone who tries to stop you, even with the best intentions, is standing between you and your destiny. Yes, this hill is dangerous. But it still must be climbed or you’ll die forever looking up at it.