… How I perceive the past can be a stepping stone or a stumbling block to the present. I need to appreciate the past and be at peace with it.
The way I make full of the present can cause me to speed up or slow down to reach the desired future. I have to be mindful of the present and to leverage on it.
My desired future will either make or break me. It can cause me to make the most out of my life or a mess out of it.
Life is about capitalizing on the passage of time, from the past to the present and right to the future.
A long time ago, I realized I would be travelling on the pilgrimage of life in four key vehicles.
Vehicle #1.
I used to love Vehicle #1 and never had quite enough of it. I would show it off to the others and I seek in vain to feel good about it.
It frequently caused me to detour from the main road that led to the destination. Every now and then, I would get into an accident and it took me awhile to understand why.
Vehicle #1 could distract me from my pilgrimage. It could cause me to make many wrong turns and even get lost during the journey.
Vehicle #1 is what I term the 5 Ps in life – position, power, possessions, pleasure and prestige.
In the past, I measured my life by what I have rather than what I gave – the quantity of possessions rather than the quality of contributions.
I oftentimes pursued the 5 Ps and amassed them, believing they would give me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. I thought I could manage them even if they had an undue influence on me.
I discovered that what I tried to master could master me. The 5 Ps could enslave me and take control of my life.
If my desire for the 5 Ps exceeded my desire to enjoy and make use of it, I would slide down the slippery slope of life.
When I overvalued the 5Ps, I found that instead of achieving a sustainable state of happiness, it was deceiving me with a miserable stench of emptiness.
The 5 Ps are only important if they can be used to create positive values and results. The people and world around me should be better for it.
Vehicle #2.
Other than sleeping, I spent the most time with Vehicle #2.
When I was with it, I wished I was somewhere else or doing something better. My body might be in the vehicle but my mind could be living somewhere outside.
In doing so, I could be throwing myself to the currents of life. I might even be sowing to the wind and reaping a whirlwind.
Although Vehicle #2 could take me farther in my life, I never quite drove it properly.
As a result, I clocked a lower mileage than what I should on the odometer of life.
Vehicle #2 is my career.
Although I spent the most part of my adult life at work, I did not fully understand its true purpose, meaning and significance.
I failed to realize how much good it could do to me and to the people around me.
I could have learned more, achieved more, and contributed more in this major area of my life – but I didn’t.
Sadly, I put a limit to what I could do with my life. I restricted myself to the distance I could cover in my pilgrimage.
My career is a calling to stretch my potential and serve at the highest good. It can help me make full use of my life and to live a full life.
Vehicle #3.
The vehicle that was always there for me was Vehicle #3. Somehow, I never did spend enough time with it.
When the weather was stormy and the road, bumpy – it was Vehicle #3 that would faithfully carry me through the extra mile.
Instead of giving Vehicle #3 a proper shelter, I left it quite often in the rain.
Whenever it was left to waste – without realising it, my life was also wasting away too.
Vehicle #3 is my family and friends.
I could count on them the most. They oftentimes had to struggle with me through the narrow and winding path of life.
In the darkest hours of my life, they were there for me and they stayed the course with me. Yet, I did not treasure them and do enough for them.
When I look back on my life, some of the greatest regrets were that I could have spent more time with them.
I could have done more to repay their kindness and to show more love to them.
Vehicle #4.
I should have taken better care of Vehicle #4. It has not only been with me throughout my life, it could have taken me farther and faster on my pilgrimage.
Sadly, I have sometimes forgotten about it.
I have left it alone on many parts of the journey – and it has left me further behind in life.
Vehicle #4 should be the most important part of my life.
It is my soul.
I could have everything in the world but if I lose my soul, I lose everything.
If I valued it and allowed our Creator to direct it, I could enjoy the most fruitful pilgrimage.
I could achieve greatness in my life and make something great out of everything within me and without.
Please take a balanced and calibrated approach in looking after these 4 Vehicles. Each one of them has a proper place in your life and you should value them accordingly.
I wish you a soulful pilgrimage. May you have a safe and worthwhile trip.
Along the way, please produce a great symphony with the tunes in your soul.
Make a masterpiece out of your life, one that will exemplify the best of life and which will inspire others to greatness.
Go4It!
I hope this message will find a place in your heart.
By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.
Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com/
Visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com/
Please read them and continue to teach me.
Life is FUNtastic!
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