Gravity is to Entropy as is Mountain Climbing to ___________

I like gravity. I don’t know about you, but I prefer my breathable atmosphere around me sticking around. I certainly would not sign up to be a projectile being slung off the earth at some thousand miles an hour. But gravity does pose as an obstacle and a challenge at times when our goals require feats of elevation.

Like the unavoidable forces of gravity, the human tendency to endeavor toward a life of as little pain and toil as possible is inescapable.

I like comfort. I have been told that there is nothing inherently wrong with the appreciation of comfort. There is simply an impulse lurking within us to do far more in life than just exist on a couch.

Mountain climbing, aviation, and astronautical endeavors can be life giving hobbies and even contribute to the wellbeing of humanity. They also can be efforts that can be what some see as a squandering of resources. This is also true of those who give of their lives to efforts that bring personal hardship for the altruistic goal of benefiting another.

Strangely enough there is an ancient letter that was written to people who were a part of what is known as the early church movement that seemed to congratulate those in this world who are fortunate enough to experience the troubles associated with poverty and hardship.

James 1:2-4 & 9-11 (New Living Translation)

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing…

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.”

In fact, this is an obscure trend found interlaced throughout the scriptures as a sort of profound irony that suffering can actually be the necessary catalyst to knowing this mysterious Creator and force for good in the world.

I wrote a song about it.

It is called, “Victory of the Overcome”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex8t-pIxNc4&w=500&h=315]

Christ’s richest blessings to you that find yourselves counted as “unblessed” in the world.

Author: Dave

LX Designer, entrepreneur & change agent. Immersed in collaborations that improve learning & working environments. Sometimes, I go fishing. View all posts by Dave