The Not So Steep Path

The not so steep path
He was sitting in our waiting room when Michaela and I walked back in. Relapse Boy.
He had been in treatment two years ago, when he knew everything, and felt comfortable sharing his wisdom with everyone he met.
I wondered what had happened in the two years. He looked beaten. He had nothing to say.
I shook his hand. “You OK?” I asked. No response. “I’m glad you came back to treatment.”
“Do you remember telling us there were many paths up the mountain?” he asked.
“I do remember. You were telling the group there was only one way to be spiritual,” I said. He winced.
“Well, there’s also many paths through the swamp. On some you just get your feet wet. Some paths take you to crazy, scary places.”
“So why travel those paths?” I asked. “Why not climb the mountain?”
“Because the paths leading into the swamp are all downhill. The water never looks that deep, and the alligators seem far away. The path up the mountain always seems steeper than it really is.”
He stared at his shoes for a long time. Something had happened in the swamp, but I decided not to press the issue.
“You ready to climb one of those ‘not as steep as it seems’ paths?” I asked. He nodded.

Today I will climb the path.
AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose