I’ve been trying to read 30 to 60 minutes of fiction or autobiography every night before falling asleep. I find that it’s a good mind decompressor.
Last night I wrapped up The Alchemist by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho (which, by my best guess, is pronounced “quel-yo”.. like Ronaldinho). I’ve run across Coelho’s name a lot lately & I know he has some rabid fans, so I had to see if all the buzz was warranted.
I’d say it certainly is.
Coelho is a pretty enchanting storyteller who has a rare ability to say a lot about life - to even change lives - without wasting a single page on meaningless narrative. This particular book is an effortless read with a deep message about following your dreams.
Like Santiago, who leaves the simple comfort of a shepherd’s life in Spain to seek buried treasure abroad, we all have something we were meant to do. A passion that is rooted in the deepest fabric of our being.
The question: Are you living the fullest extent of your passion at this moment?
If not, what is the life you would live right now if you weren’t held back by pride, fear, or insecurity?
What would it involve? Quitting your job? Traveling the globe? Getting married? Having children? Trusting Jesus?
For some, this life you were meant to live - your “Personal Legend” as Coelho puts it - has been so abused by years of discouragement and fear that you’ve let it be buried within you. It will always be there, but time has dampened the message your heart is telling you.
Unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them - the path to their Personal Legends and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.
So, we, their hearts, speak more and more softly. We never stop speaking out, but we begin to hope that our words won’t be heard: we don’t want people to suffer because they don’t follow their hearts…
[But] no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.
Those who know me well know that one of my deepest passions is to travel and experience different cultures firsthand.
Several years ago I was faced with a choice. I had just graduated from college, had a dream job offer from an NBA basketball team, and most of my family & friends lived nearby. To most, there was no choice.. I had everything I needed right there.
But my heart knew it belonged in Hawai`i. And to me, there was no other choice.
I feel blessed to know that I’m living my Personal Legend today. Along the way I found love, but love hasn’t prevented me from fulfilling my dreams in the slightest. In fact, it’s been part of the fulfillment, and it’s only been further impetus to continue in my passions.
If you’re living the life you were meant to live right now, stay focused and fearless. Like Santiago does, ask God to never stop speaking to you. Ask Him that, if you ever wander far from your dreams, your heart would press you and sound the alarm. Ask Him that, when you hear the alarm, you would heed it’s message.
If, for whatever reason, you’ve resorted to a backup plan instead of the life you were meant to live, uncover the reason why and conquer it. Know that the same God who spoke the universe into existence created you to have the unique passions you have, and He wants nothing more than for you to live fully & freely in them. In this knowledge, there is no room for fear.
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Posted on Monday, 26th May 2008 in Books, Faith, Life | Comments (1)
December 17th, 2008 at 12:48 am
“Know that the same God who spoke the universe into existence created you to have the unique passions you have, and He wants nothing more than for you to live fully & freely in them. In this knowledge, there is no room for fear.”
I realize that you wrote this awhile ago, but I just found it so grant me the time to catch up… lol. As I finished reading this I pondered one thought… Imagine for a second, that you weren’t AP, and you were just a normal person with family problems, and issues, and fears, and baggage… how would you, as the voice of good fortune (per the blog title), go about “undoing” all the bad, before moving forward in the good?
I would find your answer very intriguing, because I imagine it’s easier to say “there’s no room for fear” when you were born fearless…