Private Battles

Ok I had an ulterior motive.  Our place has garden and lawn.  The garden area was a bit wide to get to without stepping through the garden to reach the back.  I built a path.  Now I can get to everywhere in the garden.  The next-door neighbours like it.  They look out for our place when we are away.
I seldom use it these days.  I think my fear of snakes is more than a healthy respect; it is unreasonable.  I think it was borne seeing a snake display.  It featured leaf litter.  I would never know a snake was there without looking.  As I say I think it is unreasonable, because anything that can keep a person from doing what is necessary, needs dealing with.  The key for me is not to take them by surprise.  I make sure anything knows I am coming.  That gives them a chance to…I was going to say run away but they do not have legs.  It gives them a chance to slither away.
I was thinking of that path because I went down it and there was a flower in bloom.  Fair dinkum I would have had no idea without going down there.  I think the flower thing is reasonable given the meaning of my name; Peter – the rock; Graeme – stern faced; Kuskie – flower!  My last name long ago was much longer and it is Prussian.  Ok it is more Polish than Russian, but Prussia sounds so much more exotic.
The thing about the flower was it bloomed in secret.  A casual observer would have never known of its existence.  It was beautiful.  A real work of art.  I sure you think of me when hearing that.  The flower had to overcome a number of obstacles to bloom, even though it was doing what it was born to do. 
I sorta think that dovetails with something else I have been considering.  I face my own private battles.  Seems to go for all.  There are things I struggle with, and my own sadness’s, that are really only known to me.  Most stuff is obviously good, but I would be in denial if I claimed all things I face or go through caused an instant response of joy.
I do think it is important that, where appropriate, burdens are shared.  We took delivery of an air conditioning unit yesterday.  One part was really heavy.  I carried it a while, then asked for help to shift it.  I figured two could carry it easier than one.
Flowers got me thinking of pearls (but don’t tell Merril).  Something so beautiful is borne of struggle.  Of an irritation.  We see the end product and admire it and want it.  I reckon my private struggles are a bit like that.  Never pleasant, but it produces something of beauty and value.  Hopefully not just to me, but to others as well.
Naturally I prefer not to go through struggle.  I am not a “pick me, pick me” sort of person when it comes to private battles.  But I am a part of the human race.  Seems they happen whether I like it or not.
It is what it produces that I am interested in.  It can be my undoing if I let it.  It can also be something beautiful or something valuable if I let it.  The choice is mine.  Something like a pearl or flower is a good outcome to me.