Matt 7:7 Knock and it shall be opened unto you. One of my favorite excerpts from scripture. I was talking with a friend who coincidentally (or not) had posted on her work bulletin board a poem I adore, written by Constantine Peter Cavafy, titled “Ithaka”
As you set out in search of Ithaka
Pray that your journey be long,
full of adventures, full of awakenings.
Do not fear the monsters of old…
You will not meet them in your travels
if your thoughts are exalted and remain high,
if authentic passions stir your mind, body and spirit.
You will not encounter fearful monsters
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up in front of you.
I wanted to re-read it (it’s featured in Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book “Simple Abundance”) and forgot where it was in the book. Turning towards the back in the hopes of finding a reference page, I happened to turn right to the page it was on. Coincidentally. Yeah, right.
Our journeys may take different paths or end up longer than we planned or imagined, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. WHERE is this journey taking us and when exactly will we “arrive”? I perform all manner of analyses for clients who are wondering the same thing in regards to their retirement or other financial goal, using special “binoculars” that help me “see” events that may occur in the future. But, at the end of the day, it is just planning, not prediction. We make the best decisions we can using the information we have. We can admire posters and t-shirts that state “Life is a journey, not a destination” but we can often forget to live that philosophy when the stressors of everyday life grab hold of our attention. We must keep seeking our path and the proverbial pot of “gold” at the end of the rainbow. We have to believe with all of our strength that we’re on the right path; that our seeking is as valuable as our finding.
Those of us taking exceptional risks (business owners) can have our faith tested more than the average joe or jane. I’ve always been a person of great faith but, I tell ya, there are days….
That’s why I believe we all need each other’s help, guidance and support along the way. Every one of us has something to give, no matter how ordinary our lives may seem. Everyone is blessed with a gift – often many gifts – to share. If nothing else, the encouragement you provide to others just might encourage you on your path. Keep seeking.
