Lose to gain

If time could be seen in a line, and just, through some form of miracle one could walk down that line of time, and see, how the hardship, struggles and pain of his present circumstances helped chart out the path which eventually led to his future; if he could for a moment meet his 'past' self, and stir, shake and encourage him to toil on just because he knows his present glory began in that moment in time of difficulty, just because it began in the past and he knows how the story would end...the possibilities are endless.

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And yet, faith is hoping in something yet unseen because life was fashioned such that one would only be able to look back - down the line of time - after he had traversed it before. In this way he will only know 'too late', in celebration of the right thing done, or in despair and regret for mistakes in the past.

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If there were no struggles, how could 'happily ever after' be appreciated or even realized? Beauty would be born in a palace, the Beast would have never been cursed and the story of "Beauty and the Beast" would be a one-page bore. If there were no tears, how would the struggle of Wilberforce and the abolition of the slavetrade inspire people bent on making a difference? If there were no toil and turmoil, how would Gandhi's tale serve as a testimony of human perseverance and hope?

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Needs serve to remind us that we can't do it alone. Perhaps our generation has been too caught up with making our lives comfortable, not realizing we have made ourselves unable to appreciate it all. We have made ourselves numb, in pursuit of happiness. How ironic, that our self-sustenance has backfired.
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.Before the appreciation of a met need is felt, there must be a need to be met. Thank God for needs. They remind us we're only mortal.