Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to hope.
Not that Hope fails, of course, but there are certain things that seem inevitable, that no matter what state of maturity you are at or what kind of mindset you have, some things just won't ever come to you in the near future.
Take for example, a lame man who wants to run a marathon. It is possible for him to attain it, of course, but compared to the man who is already able to walk and has had the experience of training for one, could the lame man ever catch up to him?
"Yes!" The miracle believer says. "Of course!" Says the man who believes in sheer force of will. "Definitely." The man full of faith quips. And they are right, of course.
Surprised? Well, it's the truth. when you believe, when you will yourself to do something and when you're full of faith, things can happen because your mindset changes. As a man thinks, so is he.
However, it's different for everyone. Just like how the Italian soccer player prefers to dive after a soft challenge while the Argentine playmaker prefers to take the crunching tackles and press on. Just like how most Christians prefer to tell the truth while former Romanian diplomats prefer to lie. Just like how I prefer to write and you prefer to speak, perhaps. The preferences are different. The circumstances are different. The cultures are different.
Let's put this into a comparison perspective of similar subjects: Two lame men, both with the same goals. Both equally lame, both starting at the same line. The only difference between the two (Let's put them as the customary Man A and Man B) is that while A goes through the process by himself (as everyone should for their own aspirations), he has tonnes of supporters. Family, friends, relatives, colleagues, fellow students, even acquaintances. People who are vocal in their support. People who egg him on. People who presented the smallest token of it, but gave it nevertheless in relatively large amounts.
On the other hand, B does not.
B has family and friends, relatives and whatnot, of course. The difference lies in the fact that he can't see the support. He can't feel it. He can't hear it.
Both A and B appeared to be both capable and strong, but it should be obvious who would reach the goal first.
-When A and B fall down together on the same route, what does A hear and see? Cheers, words of encouragement, messages of support time and time again.
What does B hear and see? Cheers, words of encouragement, messages of support time and time again. For A. He feels happy for A, but has to get up on his own willpower, faith and strength alone.
My question is this: Can we blame B, then, for 'failing to try hard enough'? Can we keep telling B that it's his own fault that he did not believe strongly in himself? Can we blame B for not being able to keep pace with A or any other people? Should we say that it's his own fault that B, after failing millions of times on the way to his goal, is on the brink of dropping out?
Technically we can, because it is 'natural' for humans to be apathetic towards his neighbours. I'm guilty of it, he's guilty of it, she's guilty of it and YOU are guilty of it. It does make sense in a way. Why should we be responsible for someone else when it's his own responsibility to take care of himself?
Well then, is the guard captain alone able to stave off bandits by himself? Are the Red Devils able to win all their games by themselves with empty seats in Old Trafford? Would cancer survivors be able to fight off the debiliation and the gut-knotting feeling of despair by themselves?
Am I talking about people whom we've shown a lack of concern for? Yes. Am I also talking about myself? Without pretense, yes.
Everyone goes through their own battles in life. Some they are able to deal with while others require some aid. I'm thankful for the King, else I would have really driven myself mad a long time ago - or become an amnesiac from banging my head against the wall a few times too many.
The thing is, the circumstances are different. The routes taken thus far are different. The amount of support you receive is, sadly, also different. Sometimes you might even wonder if anyone cares at all.
Well, as said, I'm thankful that my King does. Even if little people do. Even if it feels like the only real support that can be felt is from the King and the Aide he has sent to me. Even if it hurts so many times. Even if, as the goalkeeper, you have to face a 11-player strong opposition by yourself.
In a tangible sense, sometimes you just really have to go ahead and do it.
Alone.
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