When I was young, I had a plan. There were visions and dreams. I imagined milestones along the way. The dream seemed impossible for the boy from India. I struggled to believe I could dream like this. With an awareness of the odds, I continued to dream.
A friend pointed out to me that my childhood dream likely ended when I was 45 years old. His words struck a chord within me. When did my childhood dreams end with fulfilment? With reflection, I see that whatever the year was, once I reached the end of my dream, I left my planning behind and began to live. I thought I was on my life road alone, only to realise as I walked into a Metro station that Divinity had quietly laid out rumble strips along my walk. I may not have known where I was going. I may have made every decision. Looking back, I see the rumble strips in my life left by Divinity and her proxies.
One may be surprised at where s/he is on their life path; Divinity is not. She left rumble strips along the way, offering insights, guidance, and lessons for growth. With any beginning and every story along the way, we can be an example of what caring to make a difference can be. Giants before us left a model filled with hope. As an example, “Melchizedek towers out of the past – without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always.” (Hebrews 7.3)
One may operate without a plan while living with a purpose. I have no idea where my future lies. I am certain what I desperately, passionately, and resolutely want it to contain. I want to be a person of integrity filled with kindness, care, and compassion. I want to be in relationships with individuals who are reaching for these values. It was never about perfection or destinations. Life is found in each step of learning one takes.
