Play in the Waves or Seek the Easy Path?

We recently took a trip to the Atlantic Ocean. The cold, harsh waves were daunting, but eventually I moved into the ocean. As large waves gathered energy in the distance, my heart raced from the cold and the thrill. As the waves moved closer, I jumped and put my feet up. The waves carried me, moved me, pulled me. I became part of the ocean, if just a small piece, and part of its expanse.

After several thrilling and exhilarating encounters with the waves, I remembered my family digging in the sand and I left the ocean to join them on the beach. My heart was racing and I felt invigorated from the intense energy of the waves and the struggle to remain standing.

Recently, I realized that I have disdained the waves of life. For a long time, I have believed:

• If I work hard enough or try hard enough, life will get easy.
• Wealth = easy.
• Better organization will lead to easy.
• The goal of life is to achieve ease in all areas of life.
• Difficulty, struggle, challenge = bad; easy = good.
• Easy makes me happy.
• I deserve easy.

Are these statements really true?

I am thinking of shedding this belief system and embracing the challenges of every day, week and month. While hope is a vital ingredient to staying alive, what I hope for can become refined. Do I hope for easiness or do I hope for something greater?

I don't know what it means to release the goal of ease and to face the waves of life, knowing that they can be harsh and punishing. They can also be thrilling and chilling. I do know that I will find out.