The Path of Lesser Resistance (Least Ninang!)

Who doesn’t want life to be easy? But life wasn’t meant to be easy. In fairy tales, in blockbuster movies, in biographies of famous personalities, in the Bible itself, difficulties are essential to life and living well.

But people would most often do what is easy. And get what they can get easily. Easy money. A shortcut to a tedious system. Television rather than educational books. Entertainment rather than productivity. (Are you talking about me Ninang? “No, me!”) Daydreams and promises rather than work. We tend to avoid “hard” as much as we can. We don’t want waiting (this is so difficult to many), writing (research Ninang? “You got me there!”), reaching out.  They are not easy. We want things on our lap as much as possible and right away. Luck.  Favor.  We are commonly attracted to a choice that will demand less energy (the path of least resistance!) rather than something we sweat over and burn the midnight oil for.

In heart defects, blood goes where there is lesser resistance. From the left atrium to the right atrium. From the left ventricle to the right ventricle. From the aorta to the pulmonary artery. All to the lower resistance lung circulation. And that’s a cause of heart failure. Even the body testifies that going to the path of Lesser resistance can cause failure (!).  Recently, for a terminal heart muscle disease, they are discovering a band that can increase resistance to blood flow can make the heart stronger (!) or function better. Talk about applying the principles of life to the heart! Well maybe to a certain (right) degree of resistance, much similar in life. The right tension and difficulty, but definitely not something just plain easy, can  make us stronger and better persons.

Everyone struggles to achieve something good.  Just google “struggles of influential people” and you’ll see what I mean. Better yet, if your family is relatively doing well than others, just interview your parents.  I am sure they will say they did not give up when life became difficult. And that includes struggling to pray continually though the odds are bleak (prayer is hard work!).

Nothing worth having comes easy. Otherwise all people will be satisfied (except the masochists maybe).. to the point of boredom.  So climb that stair. Persist in that work.  Persevere in being good.  Start that project. Write your book. Stay a little later. Wake up earlier.  Study.  Own a business. Swallow that pride. Make more friends. Do more research (ok that’s too much 😬).  When life is not easy, you’re probably on the right track. And you’re certainly in good company. 🙂

– Ninang thoughts resisting sleep (not sure if jet lag still)

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” – Our Lord and Savior Jesus in Luke 14:27