Strength

      Is strength something that can be measured? Is it matter? Is it thought?  Does it really exist at all?

      There was a man who was hiking. Something happened and he ended up with his arm stuck under a boulder, trapping him.  He was alone; no communication with anyone else.  He was faced with two choices: free his arm, or die in solitude.  Now, who would choose the second option?  He of course was determined that he would not die there.  The boulder was several times bigger than he, and weighed even more than that.  He could not move it, especially lying down and pushing with one arm.  It seemed his only option then was to use his pocket knife to get rid of his trapped arm so he could go down the mountain and get help.  So that's what he did.
      Would he have had the strength to do that in any other situation?  Like if he was sitting at home in his rocking chair?  I know I wouldn't, and I don't think he would, either.  So what gave him that strength?  It looks like he didn't have it in the first place.  Do things like strength and bravery just come when you need them?  Do they originate from chemicals like adrenaline in your brain? Or is preparation required?

      I think that far within us, there is a core of strength.  It is who we are; we are strong.  But sometimes we don't need that strength. Sometimes it's not necessary to call upon that for support.  We think that because we don't appear to be "strong", we aren't.  But that is a great untruth.  Genuine strength is not an amount of muscle.  It's not really even something you can always see.  Real strength is God.  We are His children.  We have a part of Him inside us.  And that is our strength.  He is the one who bears us up; He gives us support when we feel weak.   He is the one who grants us that extra boost when all normal strength is gone.  He makes it possible for us to perform an act that is otherwise impossible and far beyond our own strength.  He provides help for others through us.
      But to be free to call upon that strength when we need it, we have to prepare.  God cannot be with those who do not bring themselves to Him.  Just like the way we won't gain muscle by sitting on the couch, we won't have God's support and trust if we don't work for it.  May we be worthy of His Divine help in our times of need, and be prepared to be His instrument in the service of others when they are weak.