It's raining.

It's raining.

The rain sweeps in torrents on my confident shoulders.

I skip on.

The rain continues... beating harder and faster.

The change is almost imperceptible, but soon my shoulders lower.

I slow to a brisk walk.

Thunder rumbles nearby.

I simply walk.

My head is bowing.  My shoulders are drooping.

I trudge onward.

The lightning flashes.

My head lowers. The tears come.

I shuffle slowly.

My shoulders bend as if burdened with weight.

Thunder crashes.

My chin rests on my chest.  My arms hang limp.

Lightning strikes the tree only yards from my path.

I fall to my knees.

I huddle there trembling.

Another bolt of lightning.  Another crash of thunder.

I lie prostrate on the rain-soaked ground.

I realize now:

Alone, I am nothing.

Sometimes it takes discouragements, dashed expectations, and trials to bring me to the end of myself.  To bring me to the point of knowing that alone, I am nothing.  To bring me to my knees in surrender and repentance.  It's a process... and I think I'm slowly learning.
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Never settle for less!