The Light Bearers

I received an anonymous message that said, "A ship is safe in harbour, but that is not what ships are made for." The insight jolted me from my work routine that slowly robbed my spirit away. I took it as a sign from heaven, that it was time to move on. From then on, I decided to embark on an uncertain but exciting journey trusting my heart to guide, as Santiago did, my favorite hero for all time in Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist.

This Andalusian shepherd boy left everything behind to pursue his dream, traveling across the Egyptian deserts to find his treasure. He gave up the sheep he has grown to love and the security of the land he knew by heart to step into a world unknown. The first time I read his story, I admired the courage he had to follow his calling; thrice he lost his possessions but he pressed on with greater faith to find his treasure.

Inspired by his spirit, I summoned the courage to venture on my own and finally pursue my true passion, hoping to change the world with the power of words. So, I left the ‘security’ of the corporate world to the utmost concern of my mother, to step into a new world.

It meant letting go of the fringe benefits of my former job and starting from the bottom. I also endured the anxious questions of well meaning friends, but I knew it was time to trust my own heart, as Santiago did.

Sacrifices have to be made when one pursues her true calling. It was a hard transition and yet my spirit was amazingly alive. I knew I was where I was meant to be at this moment in my life. I realized, new beginnings always start with a journey (back to yourself and to God).

Early this year, I was assigned to go on a journey across the beautiful archipelago. I felt the excitement and apprehension that Santiago felt as he sold his sheep to get a ticket to Africa to get to his treasure. The Philippine islands are so diverse that going to Visayas and Mindanao felt like going to another land, having different languages and a diversity of cultures. It was a once in a lifetime adventure I needed to take, a refreshing change from previously being kept at my desk, day-in day-out. Now the outside world became a training ground.

With a pen and a notebook as my bestfriends, I went on the journey in search of my own treasure – stories of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. I had to find living Santiagos who pursued their dreams amidst difficult circumstances and uncertainties.

I had my own version of the old king, the merchant, the Englishman and the alchemist: guides whom dear Santiago providentially met in his journey and helped him get to his treasure. I encountered the same kindred spirits in my own travels as I was blessed to meet inspiring people who are living treasures of this country. I believe they were sent my way by divine providence because I would never have found them on my own.

Like Santiago who learned great lessons from his friends, I feel humbled by the real life stories I have heard from these simple folks with special dreams. Their struggles and victories have left a deep impression on me and I am truly grateful to learn from them.

I was amazed by the confessions of a single mother who had no money but had a strong faith that encouraged her to up the first spa in Iloilo from borrowed capital from friends and clients. Now, she has paid her dues and her spa counts million-peso returns. In Cebu, I find a kind woman, a mother of two who quits a prestigious high-paying job that allows her to travel the world, to be with her family. But heaven had a better plan for her as she was encouraged to put up her own fashion accessories company. Not only does she bring jobs to her community and get to spend time with her family, she also gets to share her province’s creative genius to the world.

I am also amazed with the life story of an American artist who worked as a janitor to feed his family. He created his own thank you cards for friends because he had no money to buy them, until his works were made into sculpture by a famous Japanese artist and Hallmark eventually carried his drawings in their greeting cards. Now his artworks and figurines have thousands of collectors around the world. He is not a Filipino but he chose to live here and left his country to embrace our own because he has fallen in love with the Philippines. How blessed are we.

I must also honor the life of my favorite author, Paolo Coehlo, who was sent to a mental institution three times because he thought differently. He was not insane though, he was special and had a unique gift to share to the world. Now his books, including my favorites The Alchemist, By the River Piedra I sat down and wept, and his manual, the Warrior of the Light, has touched many and continue to impact on millions of lives.

I realized there are lots of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives simply because they followed their hearts and were not afraid to dream. You and I have met true alchemists, people who turn lead into gold – their dreams into reality.

I have been blessed to stumble upon true alchemists in my travels, people who evolve like gold, refined by the challenges and obstacles they have overcome. They have discovered like Santiago did in Coehlo’s fable that they were capable of performing miracles in their own lives. Like the shepherd boy, they also realized that their souls were a part of God’s soul, and if God was with them, then anything was possible.

This is one of the greatest lesson I’ve learned while reading this book and in my journeys it was affirmed in the people I’ve met. They have discovered the real treasure within and recognized their value in the greater scheme of things. I have also learned with Santiago as pointed out by his alchemist friend that when something evolves, everything around that thing evolves as well.

This simple but profound truth was revealed in the true alchemists I've seen in the flesh. I discovered that as they sought to better themselves and realize their potentials, the people around them including their families, employees, and their community became better as well.

Because of their decision to follow their dreams, they managed to improve the lives of others. In lighting their own paths, some of their brightness were also cast upon others, such that they were inspired and began to also believe that they too can realize their own dreams.

These true alchemists are light bearers. The very people we need in this dark and cynical world. They shine brightly, quietly in their God-given corner, sharing their lights to those who want to rise to their destiny.

The Book of all books speaks of them, these children of the light. "You are like the light for the whole world…No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl instead it is put on the lamp stand, where it gives light for everyone in the house," Matthew 5:14 says. "In the same way your light must shine before the people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven," Jesus teaches us in his Sermon on the Mount.

They are ordinary people, like you and I, only they had great faith and believed in their dreams. My hero Santiago in speaking to his heart reveals, "Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him." Coehlo encourages his character further, "To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation." He explains the truth about alchemy that it is "discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you."

I am completely hooked on his story as he relates, "God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you."

I understand these must be signs to us, one has to look no further but to his heart, and consider his gifts, which are his talents and interests. I listened to the light-bearers and often hear that the secret to success is to do what you love! Follow your dreams and the money will follow. Few take the advice though, and do not want to take the risk. They leave their dreams at the back of their minds, because the bills cannot wait, while their spirits die a little death each day. "Unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them—the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness," Santiago’s heart spoke to mine.

The light bearers I know have received financial blessings as a reward but I learn an important lesson as this is secondary to realizing their fullest potentials. Their true treasure is the joy and contentment that comes with doing what you were made to do."And there were others, who were interested only in gold. They never found the secret." the alchemist warns us.

I realize that a true alchemist is one who by fulfilling his dream, brings life to others. Knowing this I learn to distinguish between authentic dreams that are life-giving and selfish ambitions that corrodes a person’s heart. The one lesson we need to take from light bearers is the abundance of their faith. The deeply spiritual Coehlo shares his faith with us as he makes Santiago realize, " If God leads a sheep so well, he will also lead a man." This gave him the strength to continue on his journey, and hopefully give us the courage to do the same.

The stories of these true alchemists as well as the fable of Coehlo assures me that --anything is possible to one who believes. It’s also heartwarming to know that a loving God really wants us to fulfill our destiny and is more than willing to help turn our dreams into reality. He supports our dreams because He has placed them in our hearts. Our Father in heaven is the ultimate light-bearer who sends us a child in a manger to give us hope so that we may have life and have it to the fullest. It is not too late for us to dream again, now that a light has been given to show the way, one who speaks directly to our hearts and tells us to go on.

"You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say," the alchemist advises us. Why do we need to listen? "Because, wherever you heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure," the alchemist echoes the words of our Savior.

God wants us to succeed just as the old king hoped that the shepherd boy would find his treasure. It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. "Dreams are the language of God," says the old woman Santiago seeks for advice.

We need to dream again like a child, to have the kind of faith that moves mountains. Coehlo in his manual, tells us that "The Warrior of the Light behaves like a child. And he remains in touch with God through his innocence and his joy, without ever losing sight of his mission."

He shares further the value of a child’s heart in the Alchemist, "Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives." He consoles us that no heart has ever suffered as it goes after its dreams because "every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity."

As I look back on my own journey, I discover that God indeed has a plan for me as well as for you. One guiding star I have turned to as my pursue my dreams is one anecdote shared by my ninang Sr.Rafaeli. The little secret, she says, is a verse from Psalm 37: "Make the Lord your only joy and He will give you what your heart desires." She says that God certainly knows the desires of your heart. He knows what will truly make you happy.

The key, is to "surrender all that you are to Him and He will fulfill all your desires." As I boldly pursue my passion, it is really a blessed assurance on cold nights when I am faced with doubts and obstacles, that there is a loving God who really wants the best for us. If only we trust Him and ourselves.

A personal mantra that has kept me going is this: "For there is nothing impossible with God," Luke 1:37, the Angel Gabriel reveals this to Mama Mary as he announces that she would conceive a child miraculously. I believe our dreams, are also children born of the Spirit, with God’s grace and our hard work, is there really anything good that is impossible?

It is only natural that we feel the fear of losing what we have as we pursue what we truly want. "But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same Hand," says the alchemist. And when you can’t go back to your old self, "you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward. The rest is up to Allah (God), including the danger," says Coehlo who offers us one of his best advises.

Now, as I finish reading his book for the third time, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned in my mind’s journey with Santiago. Each time, I read it I learn something new even when I know the story by heart. As fellow travelers in this life, the world is always teeming with new possibilities. I have visited some of the places I've been to before, but everytime I return I discover new things I've never noticed. That is because, we and the world we know continue to evolve.

While Santiago's journey has ended, my my life’s adventure has just began. I bring with me his inspiration. His story and the real alchemists I have encountered in my journey continue to affirm my faith that indeed, anything is possible to one who believes.

(Photo courtesy of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Philippines)