THE WISE MAN

THE WISE MAN

Last year I reached a turning point in my life. I felt as though I was at a cross roads, and that I had plateaud in both my personal life and my career. At first I tried to just shake off the feeling, but it only intensified as the weeks and months went by.

What started out as an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach had now turned into a gnawing and gut wrenching pain that was slowly consuming me. I had lost my motivation and became mired in self pity and depression.  My performance at work began to deteriorate and even my relationship with my girlfriend was in jeopardy.

I tried reading self help books and even had a few visits to the shrink’s office, all to no avail. It was evident that I had lost my confidence and self worth and was spiraling down even further with each passing day.

In my despair I turned to drinking and tried to drown my problems in alcohol. It wasn’t long before my circle of friends began to narrow, and finally even my best friend Larry was to abandon me. Larry grabbed the drink from my hand and told me to get a hold of myself. He said that I needed to look for answers from a higher power or I would soon be completely destitute and alone.

For some reason Larry’s words stuck in my mind and that night I made a decision to take action. I would act on Larry’s advise and search for answers from a higher power.

The next day I woke up hung over and with a splitting head ache but Larry’s words echoed in my head. I fired up my laptop and spent the morning doing research. I googled higher power, higher source, wise man, prophet, etc.  By the end of the day I had found my answer and had purchased a round trip ticket to India.

I gathered my remaining strength and dwindling financial resources and made the long trip to a distant land. For the first time in months I felt a slight surge of energy, of hope, flow thru my body. Surely I would find the answers that I had been seeking.

When I arrived in India, I immediately hired a guide and made a commitment to climb the mountain in the morning. I agreed to his lofty fee and gave him a 50% down payment, with a promise to pay the other 50% if he got made safely to the summit of the world’s highest mountain. The trip was long and arduous with many perils, but I dug down deep into my reserves and pushed myself forward. For three days and three nights we climbed that mountain. I endured cold, rain, and minor injuries, but I was determined to reach the summit or die trying.

Finally as we neared the top and approached the final summit, my guide signaled that I would have to climb the remaining hundred yards or so, on my own. I argued with him for a few moments until I realized that this was in fact my own personal journey. I handed him the other 50% of his fee for getting me here safely and he just snickered and walked away.  My body was trembling from exhaustion and fear.  Ice had gathered on my gloves and in my beard,  but somehow I dug down deep and pushed myself forward, ever so slowly.

Step by step, inch by inch I willed myself forward, until the summit was in sight. The wind was howling and driving the snow and small pieces of into my face. Visibility was very limited but I walked toward the outline of a cave entrance that was literally carved out of the rock. The entrance was illuminated by a small fire that guided me.

As I approached I was greeted by a small man that sat cross legged on a round carpet,  close to the fire. The smell of incense filled my nostrils and the sound of bamboo wood chimes played like soft music in the background. At first he said nothing, but motioned for me to sit next to him and share the warmth of the fire. The ice slowly melted from my gloves and jacket. We both sat there speechless for what seemed like an eternity until the little man finally spoke.

“Why have you made this long journey..what do you seek ?”. I gathered my thoughts and expressed to him my problems and feelings of worthlessness. He listened carefully and without interruption until I was finished before he finally spoke.

“My son…you have made a long journey and sacrificed much….however I am a man of few words, so I only have four brief suggestions for you.

1>  Tell Larry I appreciate all the references he sends me, but that I’m semi-retiring next month and moving to sunny Florida. I landed a cush job as the F&I guy at a “Buy Here Pay Here”  car lot.  After 30 years, I’ve had enough of this cold miserable,  mountain top weather.

2>  Larry needs to make clear that he means God, and not me when he tells troubled people to go to a higher source. Heck, I barely finished high school. Why do you think I’m living in this cheap rent district.

3>  Sometimes we all prefer to seek answers to our life’s problems, so far away, when really the answers are right there in our own hearts and minds.

4>  Last but not least, My son: You came up the mountain from the wrong side. Just head down this trail a quarter mile behind us and catch the #12 bus right back into Nepal.

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