The last time I visited this place was April 30th.  It is a day that pain has etched in both my mind and body making it impossible to forget.  Few days have passed since then that I do not recall those traumatic events.  It’s strange how painful events can enhance your capability to remember and forget things.  I can recall hitting the water as I fell, I remember how cold the water felt as it stole my breath and I remember knowing immediately that something was seriously wrong with my right arm and shoulder.  I can still hear the roar of the water crashing upon the rocks, like an angry mob screaming in protest at my miserable dismount.

        I remember knowing how fortunate I was to be with friends who would scrape me up and carry me to the emergency room.  I still remember feeling suffocated as I tried to breath and the pain that seemed to make it impossible to take a normal breath.  These were the thoughts that went through my mind as I looked through the lens of my camera.  There was some trickle of fear running down the back of my mind forcing me to focus on the pain of that day. 

        Anxiety and fear were sounding their alarms in an attempt to stop my progress.  But in my heart I knew this was a duel to the death.  Today fear had called me out into the street for a showdown and it was high-noon and only one of us would survive.  Either we meet and conquer our fears or they shall paralyze and enslave us.  We all have passed through painful times and difficulties that threaten us with fearful memories.  Today, I encourage you to face those fears and keep on going.  Maybe today you are walking through a dark valley, keep on walking, and do not stop.  Perhaps you have been hurt by someone you trusted; pick yourself up and refuse to live as a slave to yesterday’s pain. 

        The main thing is to keep on flowing down the course you have been given.  Do not allow difficulties or failures stop your progress.  If there are obstacles in your path use them as stepping stones and keep on climbing.  If you have fallen and been hurt, learn to harness your handicap and keep on going.  Be like the river and flow ever onward in spite of hindrance, obstruction or barrier.  You can do it; you can pick yourself up and keep flowing.  You may have to go to the emergency room, you may have to limp at first, but keep on going.  Happiness is a choice; choose to keep flowing.

Something to think about:

• Persistence will give you power to prevail over all problems.

• There’s no defeat except in no longer trying.

• Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it’s going on when you don’t have the strength.

• If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him. No one would have remembered him either.

• The elevator to success is not running; you must climb the stairs.

• Curious people ask questions—determined people find the answer.

• Accept the circumstances, then seek to overcome them.

• The best time to hold on is when you reach the place where the average person gives up.

Never, never, never, never give up.
Rickey Moore