Being Used as an Illustration

Once Upon a Time in Real Life...

My father was a preacher and he gathered his sermon illustrations from his reading of others' works, from daily news, and occasionally from observing his kids.

One of his illustrations I am remembering today, probably because of my current circumstances, was one featuring my just older brother and myself.

We had gone on a “hike” after a family picnic and Dad walked with us. The path we followed took us up a hill. I was the younger kid by three years and found the going a little tough especially when one of the rocks in the path rolled under my foot.

So, as kids will sometimes do, I complained about the rocks in my path.

My young but older brother said, “But the rocks are what we use to climb on!”

Dad thought that was profound coming from an eight year old.

When my father would preach his particular sermon using this illustration as metaphor, I always felt embarrassed to have been the one complaining (especially as the sermon reappeared over the years and I aged) but he had a good point.

Sometimes things happen that trip us up but if we need them and “climb “ using them as stepping stones life can be improved.

I have recently had an illness my immune system could not handle without doctors’ interventions and that intervention revealed a few other things that need “tending to,” so I’m now climbing this hill slowly while using the stones to get to the top.