Caving Forward
Into the dark cave, my right foot led, and my left foot followed. My family and I were led into a void.
The little light that was still visible was soon consumed by the depth of the mountain. Uncertain, apprehensive, I maneuvered through and up its narrow hallways. We were provided a yellow helmet with a light to illuminate the way forward, but it only offered a vague outline of a few feet ahead. While the black walls screamed struggle and risk, they silently whispered adventure and growth.
In this tucked-away space, the volume of my breath rose, and that of the world died. In this isolation, I found it easier to listen to myself. My breath, my sweat, and my thoughts all emerged from behind their fortified walls.
Soon the narrow path widened. We were now standing in a cavern with really cool columns and stalagmites with various shades and colors.
At this moment, I thought about how easy it would be to get lost in here. Taking the wrong path, making the wrong decision, could prove life-threatening. The guide was in his 22nd year of working this cave. His experience traversing these obscure corners made me confident in him. So, we followed his steps.
"But where were we going?" I wondered after about 30 minutes. Were we going in a circle, only to return where we had begun? Or was there a final destination, a telos, a finale?
Witnessing massive ceilings, immense columns, and hanging rocks that looked like icicles, I was in awe. However, breaking out into a vicious sweat, I was craving for some sort of relief. Some water or fresh air, perhaps. Half an hour passed, and I think my eyes began to miss the light of day.
Finally, we entered into a large cavern where a shimmer of light shone through the piercing in the ceiling. That's where we were going.
Climbing in that direction, I could already see the birds soaring through the extravagant vines and light-green trees. We were on our way out of the darkness into a remotely elevated part of the mountain, where the rays of the sun danced, and the winds shook the trees. Upon arriving, an exhilaration unlike any other rushed through me. I had persevered, fought, and hoped for the immaculate result that my work required of me. And I'm not talking about the cave. I'm talking about life.
Just as I felt satisfied and complete in this rewarding atmosphere, full of life and beauty, the guide told us that we must continue. We had more to climb. More to see, he said. To our right, there was another cave, which would take us on another journey, requiring even more mental and physical abilities, leading us forward, towards greatness.
- You might be walking for 1 hour, one month, or a year; keep pushing. The moment will come. You do not know when the light will come.
- Observe the beauty in the struggle. Relish in your isolation, listening to yourself and admiring your surroundings, dark as they might seem.
- Listen to the advice of those who have gone through the cave.
