THE FALL BEFORE THE CLIMB

How Abyssal is the Hollow?

There was a time when passing by the abyss meant nothing to me. It wasn't there for me. Or so I thought. It's at that time we take for granted how untroubled life is. But the abyss waits. It waits patiently. It picks the moment and begins drawing you down. It starts with a small trial. Then a few more. The abyss then increases the affliction testing you to your limits. It's during this time that we find our strength to fight back, to show what we are made of.  And I did fight back for many years. I triumphed. I survived. We did it.  Family trials, health problems, we got through them. As a family we worked together to solve the afflictions we were facing. I learned to be stronger. I learned to pray with all my heart. I learned compassion and I learned forgiveness. But, I wasn't prepared for what was to come. The abyss wasn't finished.  This wasn't over.   In the midst of adversity, an oyster can give you a pearl.  A pearl above all other stones.  And within the walls of  afflictions we can receive this amazing gemstone. This pearl can make all the heartfelt trials disappear. Your focus changes and you become renewed. We had joy. Life was amazing, amazing that is, until that perfect stone, so shiny, so precious, so close to our hearts was taken from our grasps. Just taken away. Left with nothing.  That is where I found complete darkness.  That is where I found  how abyssal the hollow can be.