I just finished reading ‘The Alchemist’ for the first time and wow! What a book! I absolutely loved the story about the journey of a Spanish shepherd boy and what he went through in order to follow his dream across the sea.
“He still had some doubts about the decision he had made. But he was able to understand one thing: making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”
-‘The Alchemist’ by Paul Coehlo, Pg. 70
This quote that I grabbed for the book adeptly describes my feelings of deciding to leave for the World Race.
Unlike the shepherd boy, my dream wasn’t to the see the Pyramids of Egypt, but I didn’t know what my dream was exactly…
When I moved to LA, I had an open mind to the experience of living here. I did not have a goal or vision except to learn as much as I could and glean from every experience I could. I think I had the right attitude, but I lacked vision! And vision is very important if you want to go places in life!
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
-Joel A. Barker
This quote also reminds me of this scripture:
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
-James 2:14-17
After living here for a short while, my heart hurt within my breast. I cried out to God in frustration and anger. I was alone. I decided I was going to leave. I didn’t care that I just got a new apartment. I would break the lease and go back to my home where people loved and cared about me. But God clear as day echoed in my mind with two simple words.
“Three years, three years, three years.”
Silence.
Response?
“Okay, FINE!”
Whenever times have been tough, I just remembered what God said and stayed true to what I believed He had asked of me.
August 2013 – I first moved to LA.
March 2014 – “Three years, three years, three years.”
August 2017 – Today
I stayed in LA for the duration of time God asked of me. I’ve kept my word because God spoke His over me.
During that time, I have grown in ways I never thought possible. I have read tons of books, met incredible people, went to Japan by myself for eighteen days, and have gotten to experience some wonderful (and painful) things. Too numerous to include in ONE blog post!!!
I’ve been drawing closer to God and letting him see the yearnings of my heart and trying to understand His.
God, what is your vision for my life?
Even though, I thought I was on the path of what I wanted, I realized it wasn’t that simple. I still had a dream or a “Personal Legend” that I wasn’t fulfilling.
Life is not a straight, paved road. The World Race is not going to be easy. Fundraising is already teaching me that! But it’s going to change lives, including mine.
“Maktub.”
-The Alchemist
