Have you ever noticed that life is full of challenges? Have you noticed that, sooner or later, all of us are going to have some pretty steep mountains to climb?

I heard about a woman named Jill whose car was unreliable. She called her friend John for a ride every time her car broke down. One day John got yet another one of those calls.

“What happened this time?” he asked.

“My brakes went out,” Jill said. “Can you come and get me?”

“Where are you?” John asked.

“I’m in the drugstore,” Jill responded.

“And where’s the car?” John asked.

Jill replied, “It’s in here with me.” (1)

That’s life, we say. Sometimes you’re the bug; sometimes you’re the windshield, but life is one series of challenges after another. Some of these challenges are routine everyday headaches and irritations. The ca…