Be a keeper of the light
from Manuscript found in Accra by Paulo Coelho
That feeling of uselessness has no respect for age and never asks permission, but instead corrodes people’s souls, repeating over and over “no one is interested in you, you’re nothing, the world doesn’t need your presence”. In a desperate attempt to give meaning to life, many turn to religion because a struggle in the name of faith is always a justification for some grand action that could transform the world. We are doing God’s work they tell themselves.
They don’t understand that religion was created in order to share the ministry and to worship, not to oppress or convert others. The greatest manifestation of the miracle of God is life.
Ask the flower in the field “do you feel useful? After all you do nothing but produce the same flower over and over”. And the flower will answer” I am beautiful, and beauty is my reason for living.”
Ask the river “do you feel useful given that all you do is keep flowing in the same direction?” And the river will answer “I am not trying to be useful, I am trying to be a river.”
Nothing in the world is useless in the eyes of God. nothing that falls from the tree, not hair from your head, not an insect dies, because it has no use. Everything has a reason to exist.
Don’t try to be useful, try to be yourself – that is enough, that makes all the difference. Walk no faster Nor slower than your own soul because it is your soul that will teach you usefulness of each step you take.
Sometimes taking part in a great battle will be the thing that will change the course of history. but sometimes you can do that by simply smiling, for no reason, at someone who happens to pass you on the street. Without intending to you might see the life of a complete stranger, who thought he was useless and might have been ready to kill himself until a smile gave him new hope and confidence.
Even if you were to study your own life in detail and relive each moment that you suffered, sweated, and smiled beneath the sun, you would still never know exactly how you have been useful to someone else. A life is never useless; each soul comes down to earth here for a reason. The people who really help others are not trying to be useful, they are simply leaving a useful life.They rarely give advice but serve as an example. live the life you always wanted to live. Avoid criticizing others and concentrate on fulfilling your dreams. This may not seem very important to you, but to God, who sees all, the example you give is helping him to improve the world. And each day, he will instill his blessings upon it.
