By Paulo Coelho
In the intervals between battles, the Warrior of Light rests.
(Manual of the Warrior of Light)
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I believe in life there are two paths to be traveled: the path of my own desire and the path I currently travel. Society would have me believe that these two roads are one in the same. This ultimate path, for me now, is only a dream.
Presently I act, as Santiago of The Alchemist acts, and tend to my sheep to pass the time, to keep me occupied, to please those around me. My daily routine demands of me little thought as each night I refuel half way with only minimal sleep. When I rest my worn limbs each night (usually), I find I am too tired to think. When I awake the following morning, I discover once again that I cannot not think, at least of nothing but sleep. By the time I am awake enough to perform mental process, I am already busy at work repeating yesterday’s motions.
Today, however, I rebelled. When I make use of the word “rebel”, I do not speak of the militant Weatherman approach or even the musical protest of Bob Dylan. My form of rebellion was against myself, within myself. I simply sat in my Jeep Cherokee for five minutes. Five minutes! The action was passive and ultimately I lost yet I prided myself in trying again. Listening to the drops of rain collide with my roof, I closed my eyes and was at peace. I forced myself, as I often must, to forget my life. Forget my girlfriends 18th birthday today, the grill session I received from my coach when I trapped a ball poorly, my fragile ankle structured like a cracked glass, and above all the homework that would undoubtedly reduce my sleep to a few hours. I was living in the present. It was rare event and a valuable one.
For five minutes I thought of nothing but me; I was delighted. It was during these limited minutes I remembered a discovery I made long ago. I, like many, if not most, students, have accepted my mechanical life and even come to believe in its purpose. There is no purpose for me in my current though I remembered today. For a few minutes I contemplated the path of my own desire. I faced the cobb-webbed road scarcely visited and wondered, what if?
And although I volunteered to return to my routine path, I know I will ultimately leave and then clean out the cobb-webbs blocking a better life, one of purpose, one of my desire. I believe my path will converge to the same point in time as I convert my inner desires into outer realities. I will use my contemplated road to guide my road of action and only then will these words be true.
Until then I trudge a life of duality as many of this world do. We all have aspirations and most of us work hard to keep them only dreams. It will only be when I summon the courage needed that I will burn my high school diploma and spit on my college applications. Then I will know I am no longer a person of duality but rather a complete person, one who wholly values a life of thought and action, one who has reach the point of accomplishing my “Personal Legend”.
Amen ..xx
…and hangs out with friends…who gives him golden wisdom.
Reminds me of the Ramayana, and the ancient ways of the warrior in India, which are revealed in this text: During the day, the warriors would go out onto the field to do battle, of course, but, as night came on, they put down their weapons and all gathered around – warriors from BOTH camps, together – to share food, drink and tales of their great battles. This nightly camp, where there is a coming together even of the greatest of enemies in a sort of comraderie that transcends their differences – this is meant to symbolize the “between-world” which we enter into as we pass from one life to the next. In other words, we die (leave the world and its transient battlefield behind) and go to rest, to bandage our spiritual wounds, share nourishment and revitalize ourselves, seated side-by-side even with those who, in life, were our most formidable enemies. We do this because we have the wisdom to know that the disagreements we hold are merely on the surface. Beneath it all, we are brothers. Then once we are all refreshed, we reincarnate once again, to resume our combat on this great battlefield of life.
A beautiful image, I think!
Savita
… and prays and …. dreams!
LOVE,
THELMA