I was a skeptic. Not entirely but I figured if the answer to at least a few of my major questions regarding life and this existence were in this book I was supposed to read then why wouldn’t everyone be throwing this literature at me as much as other normal, shall we say, over-achievers in the solicitation of religion? But I had decided it may break up the slightly monotonous (but still thoroughly enjoyable of course) courtroom drama kick I happened to be on at the time.
Prior to reading this work of literature I had the good fortune of meeting an older gentleman that had been into this kind of “spiritual concentration” for quite a bit longer than I. He was a friend of the family and one whom I would definitely consider a mentor, educator and good friend as well. Conversations about everything from nature to introspectiveness, society’s malpractices, interpretations of events happening in our lives mixed with a general baseline that everything relates; an interesting plethora of topics for a young mind searching for something he knew existed yet had not been able to quite identify with.
I would stop out to help him with his hobby farm here and there and at some point conversation would become more important than the work I was originally there to do. The man had experienced the life of a millionaire, the struggles of poverty, the life of a husband, a successful business owner, a world traveler, a father, a mentor, a speaker, a farmer and a naturalist amongst other perspectives. He would go on about true personal responsibility, integrity, honesty and the importance of listening and not just waiting for your turn to speak; even as I would be doing just that with all of the questions and ideas I had roaming around my head begging to be let out lest they be forgotten. His insights, ideas and beliefs italicized with a peaceful contempt for the materialistic world around him helped me to understand a lot more about why I did things a certain way, why I thought of things the way I thought of them, and how I related my own perspective to that of the world’s around me.
During one of our conversations he suggested I take a look at this book he believed would help me in my pursuit. Taking his word for it I went out to a local bookstore and found a copy. I drove home with the hopeful skepticism of someone who thinks they may have discovered something new and worthwhile but in all probability probably hadn’t. The book was called “The Celestine Prophecy”.
I read through the story thoroughly enjoying it and thinking I had finally found all the answers I would ever really need to rationalize what was going on in my life at the time. My questions about how people truly relate to one another were all but answered… but the thing about questions and answers is this: If we have a question we want answered desperately enough sometimes the first possible answer that comes along is the one we latch onto immediately; which is exactly what I had done. I read through all of the chapters of this book, soaking up every word in print as if they were truly the words in red themselves. I went back to my mentor’s house, finally feeling like I understood this man and his ideas that much better than I had before. We chatted about what I had learned, what I thought, and where I had taken some of the ideas from the book in regards to applying them to my own daily existence. His comments were, as usual, of the type that produced more questions than answers. While I left feeling much less ignorant than I had a week prior, I realized that one of the greatest occupations in life is that of the perpetual student.
As helpful as this book had been in understanding my friend and altering my perspectives of life in general, I eventually fully understood the meaning of the figurative phrase “taken with a grain of salt”. Everything including the seemingly obvious answers to our most desperate questions should be given thought. Everything should be questioned and re-evaluated. We should not take for granted that this life has already been solved for us and therefore is meant to be followed as others see fit. Question. Learn. Adapt. Grow. This life with all of its intricacy, experiences and infinite yet mostly unseen connections influences us all differently. What may seem to work for the majority does not work for everybody.
It seems to me we’re all on the same path. The only difference is some of us have been walking it a little longer than others and at different speeds. All too often we let petty differences and misinformation distract us from the people and experiences that actually mean something in our lives; experiences that we’ll actually remember and reflect upon as we’re living through our final days as opposed to all of the irrelevant happenings that have long been forgotten.
Take in the sights and sounds along the way and enjoy them. Appreciate them truly as your own experience. The good times, the trying times and everything in between; enjoy the journey because not one person knows for sure when or where this path will end.