The Second Hill

Are you running that hill or is that hill running you?

That's a question a man asked me today as I was jogging.

He was standing by his car, I was breathing hard as I moved up
the hill where he was parked. His question plagued me.

Each day presents us with hills.

Hills, bills, chills, spills, thrills, deals, kills, pills,
wills, and nils. . .

We have them all sooner or later.

Are they running you or are you running them?

Each hill or uphill climb in our lives tries to tire us, make us
quit, or at the very least, make us complain.

You can't avoid getting tired.

I don't care how much exertion your physical or mental
conditioning can withstand, a steep enough hill will make you
tired.

Whether the hill is running you doesn't depend upon whether you
are tired. There are those who are tired even though they are
sitting in rocking chairs.

The hill runs you when it gets you down.
I refuse to let that happen.
I know the hills make me stronger, that's why I run them.
Every hill in my life has made me stronger.

If you run your hills instead of them running you,
they will make you stronger, too.

You'll be in better shape.

You'll get tired, but eventually the same hill will get easier
and easier.

One day, even the hills will be no challenge.

You'll seek a mountain.

Don't worry, you've got Wings.