Upon the Mountain

     When does a man really die? When his hopes and dreams die. When he comes to a conclusion that no matter what he does and how hard he tries his life will not get any better. Upon a mountain is where he lives, a mountain created by the past.
    Generations of people have come and gone and each of them has left their mark upon our world. We must live with the actions of those who have came before us. Right or wrong we inherit what others have done. On a crumbly rock filled road we travel slipping and falling along the way. Upon the mountain we fall and we are hurt.
     Placed before us upon the mountain are jagged rocks of fear and violence that cuts into our soul. Large boulders of various problems roll down upon us. Loose rocks of doubts weakens our resolve and keeps us from moving forward. Upon an injurious path we walk upon the mountain.
     What hope do we have when people stack the world against us. Like lambs to the slaughter we are born into the world with wolfs waiting outside our door. The mountain causes our world to shake and tremble and all who live upon it to fall. Upon jagged rocks we are cut and beneath boulders we are crushed. Where can we run and where can we go to be safe upon the mountain?
     Building our world is hard indeed because of the great task of fixing. Smoothing down the rocks of the past and breaking down the boulders is itself a lifetime of work. Cautiously we must build the mountain so that the next generation is spared. Pain and suffering we have to much of let there be happiness tomorrow. Work and more work we will have to do so to build us a livable place upon the mountain.
     With worn out bodies and worn out souls we all eventually become part of the mountain. It is up to us whether or not we leave behind a jagged rock of violence or a none injurious stone. Choices that are made well, will make the future stable and secure. If we build the mountain right, tomorrow will not have to be feared.
     Our hopes and dreams can be realize if we can move the boulders of our problems and shovel the rocks of doubts out of our way. The mountain of our past can be changed by the surface of the present. By our hands and by the spirit of our Lord we can do the necessary work. The mountain can be changed into a livable and hospitable environment. No more falling down being injured or cut. The mountain can be made to be better.
     There is so much work to be done and so little time to do it. Like ticking clocks we are winding down our bodies are slowly dying but there is no other way or no other place to travel. We are all here living upon the mountain of the past. Whatever road we chose to take it still lies upon the mountain. It is up to us whether or not we sweep away the slippery stones of doubts beneath our feet, smooth down the jagged rocks of violence and fear and break down the boulders of our problems. Whatever we will leave behind, others will have to travel upon. If today we decide to sleep what will the mountain look like tomorrow?