To me, the journey of knowing who I am is more like a race. Not the normal race where you have to line up and race against each other. Each striving to be the first one to reach the final line. The race I visualize is more like a cross country. Where we are all running but no one really knows where the finish line is. Runners have to run through open-air courses over natural terrain, sometimes through dark forests and all that guides us are markers along the narrow paths to show us where to head.
In this race we do not compete with each other. Rather, everyone is running at their own pace. There are times when you get so tired and you just want to take a break. There are times where you feel like giving up because you ask yourself ‘what is the point of all this? There are times when you run on a level field where there is peace and quiet. Once in a while you enjoy the run down the hills because it is effortless.
The hardest part is when you have to run through a dark forest. You feel the danger all around you and you can’t see where you are going. It is at this place that you learn to quieten your soul and listen to what is happening around you. When you are still, a firefly will pass by and in a moment, you will be able to see the path again. Other times if it is raining, a lightning will strike and the light will map out the signs on the path.
It is during the dark times that you have to be really still to understand where you are and where you need to go. Deep down you know you can’t quit the race and what keeps you going is knowing that what is at the end of the line will be worth all you are going through.