An old man lies on his death bed with a mountain of regrets beside him. He calls for you and leaves you with a single dagger as your inheritance. It’s a replica of the most powerful item in the world, or so the old man believes. You take it with honour and start your lifelong journey to obtain the original.
The dagger’s name is Soulbliss. As the myth goes, the wielder of the dagger will inherit eternal joy. The old man sacrificed his life to find the magical item. Now you will take the baton, and do what he couldn’t.
Years pass filled with misery and little luck. Every stone you upturn speaks of promise but only leaves disappointment. Your next lead is a man in China who claims to have seen the mysterious dagger with his own eye. Upon arrival the Chinese man produces an old photograph of Soulbliss in the hands of a great man. From the photo it appears the dagger gave its owner everything and just a little more for good measure. He agrees to trade you the whereabouts of the man in the photo for your replica. Although it’s just a replica, it has become your most treasured possession. With great sorrow you hand it over, even more determined now to find Soulbliss.
It’s a four day hike up the snowy mountains. You don’t understand why, but somehow you know in four days your search for Soulbliss will finally come to an end. You reach the cabin and knock on the door. An old ragged man opens the door. It takes you a while to recognize him, but it’s definitely the man from the photo. That is when your dreams shatter. He tells you that 25 years ago his beautiful wife died. Yet he was unable to shed a single tear for her. He was happy, and he couldn’t stand it. In order for him to mourn his wife, he threw Soulbliss into a furnace. As he watched it melt, he felt his sadness return to him. You stand in the cold snow… the reality fails to set in… Soulbliss was destroyed 25 years go…
_________
Sometimes we waste so much time and effort to find something that doesn’t even exist. And sometimes, we lose what is actually valuable to us along the way.
It takes a strong soul to celebrate what is, and not what might be.
you have a gift of weaving an "adult fable" if you will, a story that keeps your mind engaged and holds a life-long lesson. these are wonderful and true to the point.
ReplyDeleteexcellent job!
:-)
So true. Blessed are those that find joy in the journey.
ReplyDeletePerfect as always....You make me stop and think with each post you have. Thank you for your beautiful words.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it, but you write the most amazing posts. This spoke to me today. Especially this comment:
ReplyDelete"Sometimes we waste so much time and effort to find something that doesn’t even exist. And sometimes, we lose what is actually valuable to us along the way."
Louis, I enjoyed this. The theme is similar to Poe's poem Eldorado (see below) right down to the frustration at the end. A counter to the theme would be the Stoic belief (among others) that nothing important can be taken from us because the only thing that is important is within us.
ReplyDeleteGaily bedight,
A gallant night
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of El Dorado.
But he grew old --
This knight so bold --
And -- o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like El Dorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow --
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be --
This land of El Dorado?"
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied --
"If you seek for El Dorado."
Incredible. You really are talented at writing the most compelling stories.
ReplyDeleteSo for this one...hmmm...I don't think I would believe the old man as I think only god could give that and it isn't going to come this side of eternity and not in some object alone. So, i would take the dagger and enjoy it for its mystery and leave it at that. Maybe i woudl take it to Sotheby's and sell when hard pressed for soe cash! :|
It is the human condition to constantly search for the next big thing to give fulfillment and joy to our lives. We are truly happy when we can experience joy no matter what our circumstances. Brilliant post!
ReplyDeleteyou know what i love about your posts! they are so painfully real!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful post, you; and so very true.
ReplyDeleteStopping by to see how you are. It's been about a week since you've written. Hope you are well.
ReplyDeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for an happy ending but I was surprised! YEah, life isn't always a fairytale and we often waste our time in something useless while we could appreciate the amazing things we already have (but we dont see them because we are blind of the useless and futile things).
The life lessoon in this post is priceless.
Great read.....so true.
ReplyDelete