Two Paths

Two Paths


I stood before two paths.
The first of sorrow and pain, the second of happiness and joy.
I turned toward the second path, intent to follow its way.
But I could not go.
I was not allowed to trod that path.
Steeling my heart, I turned toward the first path.
Its way was dark and ominous.
Closing my eyes, I took a step.
Pain and hurt assaulted me.
Emotions I had never experienced before flashed through my mind.
With tears and sorrow in my heart I strode on.
This was my path in life.

But a short distance down that path, I noticed something.
Beside that path of pain ran a new path.
It was a path of light.
A path of determination.
A path that might lead to another happiness.
But between me and this new path there was a wall.
Soaring high into the air and running toward the horizon, I saw no way past this wall.
I turned and started walking down the path of pain once more.
The pain grew.
And the wall beckoned.
The path behind beckoned.
I stopped.
I thought.
And I committed myself to find a way.
A way past that wall.
Steeling my mind, I walked up to the wall.
I reached out my hand.
I touched the wall.
The last strength I had went into that touch.
All my determination went into that touch.
All my sorrow, all my pain, and all the joy I might have had went into that touch.
My finger brushed the surface of the wall.
And it fell.
Stone by stone, the wall crumbled.
A light shone into the darkness.
And I stepped beyond that wall.

The path I now stood on was one I never expected to trod.
It was a hard path, full of obstacles and difficulties.
But somewhere, somewhere in the distance I knew I could find what I looked for.
Somewhere in the distance was a happiness I thought I had lost.

As I started down this new path, I noticed something else.
The path of pain and the path of happiness were still there.
They were indeed path of this path.
Two forces at work on this path.
The path of happiness strengthening it.
The path of pain tearing it apart.
And I knew that I was in control of which force would win.
What path was this that I strode along?
What path was this that was strengthened and destroyed at the same time?
This, my friends, is the path of my life.
To one side, sorrow and pain, trying to tear my down from where I stand.
To the other side, a pure happiness I could not attain,
But a happiness that will always be there to guide me.

As I continue walking, new forces appear.
Friends.
Family.
They walk beside me, helping me around the obstacles.
They comfort me.
I raise my head and look forward.
Forward into my future.
Forward into the future that is mine to create.

Friday, March 10, 2000
10:15am

-Mark-