On the spiritual path, we inevitably hit rough patches. We suffer setbacks, stagnation, disillusionment, and loss. Personal issues we thought we addressed years ago suddenly come back to haunt us. If only we didn’t have these problems, we think. We’d be so enlightened!
But our challenges serve a purpose: They are our springboards for growth. Without them, we would not progress, much less “awaken.” Our problems are not separate from our path; they are vital to it. As singer/songwriter Bob Sima wrote: “Everything you go through grows you.”