Up ahead there's a mountain you've always wanted to climb. It's a yearning you've had all these years but never followed through.

"Tommorow," you'd think. I'll do it tomorrow." But tomorrow never came. And, years of worry filled up your backpack.

"Today's the day," you exclaim. So, you start walking towards that path. But, your backpack is so heavy. And, along the path you find more worries and you throw them into the bag too.

At last, you've reached the foot of the mountain; excitement comes into your heart. Finally, you're going to do it! How can you leave the backpack behind? It's been with you all your life, an important part of you (or so you think).

That mountain climb is so tempting! So, you take your worries with you. The more you climb, the heavier the pack gets, for you've found new worries along the way. The huffing and puffing gets worse, but you're determined to make it to the top. You've walked this path, this far, before, but now the load feels so much heavier.

Just up ahead a bit more and the top becomes visible. Your shoulders are hunched, the load too heavy, and every breath much more difficult. But, still you continue on.

Then a question pops into your mind, "Why carry these burdens? Why not shed some now and worry about them later?"

So you begin to throw out the small worries. There go the bill collectors and following them goes the guilt. With excitement you throw them in the air. And, there go the moods, those lows and those highs. A quick but strong push tosses them to the wind. Gone are the worries, gone are those moods. Lighter is the pack, and now that top gets clearer. The excitement increases. A bit more gets thrown and kicked and pushed and blows far away.

You look to your left and right. You've made it! The bag is deflated and your heart is a flutter. You turn just a bit and look down the side. Below are all your worries strewn everywhere. They'll still be there on your journey ahead, but not for the moment. You think to yourself, "I'll enjoy the moment," as you take a deep breath.

You stand at the mountain top and shout, "I've done it at last! I've walked my way up the Mountain of Hope!" You've found one day at a time, one moment, one minute, but most important of all ---- you've found Peace!

No, your worries won't go away. But they can be tossed aside! Take some time for yourself and just enjoy today.

Yes, you've found things can get better. Even though you don't see the path of tomorrow, you have travelled the path of past. You'll come across many paths along the way, but the best path and mountains are yet to come!

So, please accept Jesus' hand. And, know that you don't walk this path of life alone.