Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Lewis Carroll’s work, Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is available for free download from Project Gutenberg here.

“There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; and when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every door, she walked sadly  “down the middle, wondering how she was ever to get out again. Suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table, all made of solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key, and Alice’s first thought was that it might belong to one of the doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of them. However, on the second time round, she came upon a low curtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high: she tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted!”

Note: There are times in life when we face a choice to give up or continue struggling uncertain of the outcome. In our story, Alice could have sat down and cried hoping someone would rescue her. Instead, Alice kept on seeking a way through. In the midst of our trials, when we refuse to give up, suddenly the answers appear. We find our way through. Has it ever happened to you? It has to me, multiple times. For me, it was the answer to prayers. It was as though I had to make a good faith effort and not quit before my prayers were answered. Sometimes they were answered in ways I wanted. Sometimes in ways I didn’t understand; but, in hindsight, I knew they were the perfect answers.