Isn’t there quite a bit of truth in this illustration? We tend to expect things will go a certain way, a matter of steady progress toward whatever goals we have. But in reality, life seldom seems to go that way. In fact, I don’t think I know anyone whose life does flow quite easily from point A to point B. Do you? Certainly there are those who seem to have everything going their way. But I suspect if we were to walk in their shoes, we might see a different picture.

And if we expect that life will be quite predictable, are we not setting ourselves up for disappointment? After all, when life takes a sudden turn toward difficult paths, we have then both the difficulty and the surprise grief over the turn of events.

Another thing that occurs to me is the irony that we seldom if ever know precisely where we are on the path. Is this current difficulty that you face actually a high spot compared to the next chapter of your journey? If so, wouldn’t we have special cause for celebration of this day’s blessings? And if we are at the bottom spot of a dark valley, don’t we have opportunity to celebrate the hope for better days yet ahead?

I don’t suppose many would voluntarily sign up for suffering or difficulty, but we are not put in this world to avoid difficulty either. (As if we could.) In the words of Charles Spurgeon: “Oh for the grace to love the rough paths, because we see (God’s) footprints on them.” God’s Word in the book of Joshua says, “I will show you the way because you have not been this way before.” Don’t we all want – and need – an experienced guide to lead us through the rough spots, those same spots that refine us and prepare us to draw closer to him and to those around us?

But we have more than two choices. We are not limited to just a fairy tale illusion of a perfect life or a pessimistic view of waiting for the next catastrophe to arrive. We have a third wonderful choice. And that is to accept each new day as a gift, complete with joys and difficulties (challenges). I admit, I’ve done better some days in this journey with Leukemia than others. But the day is much better when I contemplate how well I am doing now compared to certain past treacherous days; and how much better I expect to be in the future.

That is the beauty of this. Each day offers a new opportunity to refine our perspective. It’s one choice we have control over: how we will receive each new day.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24