Looking for that Absolute Kick

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Why?

Heavily loaded, two tourists are struggling up the Panamerican Highway to Curahuasi. On the bike, the effort to push each pedal is torture.  From the Apurimac River, the road rises inexorably upwards.  Every pound of luggage adds to gravity’s endless pull downwards.  Why are these two taking so much trouble?  Why do we push ourselves to our limits?

Some try hang-gliding in the mountains; others do a bungee jump headfirst into the depths of a canyon.  Those in the gym strain and push to the end, while the student crams at his desk after a long night of heavy drinking as if not needing any sleep. We set ourselves ever higher standards.

Who are we trying to prove ourselves to?  To ourselves?  To our wife?  To our neighbour?  To posterity?

Maybe we just want to check if we still can do it. Instinctively we know that time is working against us.  Our sphere of action will be more restricted and our workload will become smaller. At the end, we just hope the nurse will put the anti-Parkinson’s pill in our mouth and a friendly visitor will push our wheelchair onto the veranda.

I know someone who suffered such intense agony that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground .  He was really tough. He achieved something that no one had ever tried before him.  His commitment was total and completely voluntary.  When he died on a cross, many wondered, “Why is he suffering all this?”  Only later was his motive revealed.  He wanted to demonstrate his love to us.  /KDJ

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