Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.
Joseph Campbell
When I contemplate the expression "follow your bliss," I conjure up two images. One is where a person is living a life in tune with his or her deepest longings. They're surrounded by what most would call the trappings of success (i.e. a fancy home and cars, etc.), and, best of all, they're sharing this lifestyle with people they love.
The other picture is one where a person is involved in his or her life passion. They've dedicated their life to a cause - whether it's volunteer work, or international development, or something as simple as being the best at what they do on a daily basis - and they feel fulfilled by contributing or serving in the capacity of their choosing.
Then, when I reflect on an experience I had while walking home on a recent Friday night, the opposite image comes to mind. On my way home that night, I encountered a homeless man who stopped me and asked if I had any spare change. I gave him a few coins I had in my pocket, as well as my special "coin" (If you're a regular reader of my column, you'll know it's the one with the biblical quote from John 3:16 - I had given a similar one to a beggar outside a church in Ottawa earlier this fall.) After I gave the homeless man my special coin, I briefly explained its significance and expressed my desire that the coin would bring him some blessings.
As I think back on that chance encounter of a few days ago, I find myself wondering why - why do some people, like the homeless man, choose a life path that is rutted with obstacles and seemingly devoid of hope? Conversely, why do others opt for a more clear life direction where the chance of following their bliss and realizing their dreams is much more tangible?
Author and speaker, Neale Donald Walsch, says, "You get to fill the blackboard of your life with whatever you want. If you have filled it with baggage from the past, wipe it clean." It may be difficult for the homeless man to wipe his slate clean, but what other option does he have?
Whatever our "station" in life, when each new day dawns the train is moving and we are the conductor. The locomotive called our life is powered by an internal engine of desire and perseverance. Our job as the conductor is twofold. We have to set ourselves on the right course, as well as furnish the fuel to keep the train moving.
The source of our fuel is a mixture, or hybrid, of empowering thoughts born of belief and using the high-octane intake of the thoughts derived from others. These thoughts are distilled, of course, from the pages of great literature. They come from the stories of others who have fashioned the kind of lives to which we may aspire. These are the biographies of men and women of strong faith and conviction (i.e. Blessed Mother Teresa, Sir Winston Churchill, and Mohandas Gandhi, to name just a few) who used their God-given talents to make a profound difference in the world around them.
It's interesting - when I left the homeless man last week I had to cross over a train track on my destination home. Hopefully, the scriptural anchor that I gave him will be the catalyst to get him back on track and onward to a brighter day tomorrow.
Leonard Quilty is a teacher with the Centre for Learning@Home in Okotoks, Alta. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]
