I looked at a picture of a man riding on a horse into the distance and I wrote a short story about it.
A Tale of Two Destinies
I woke up this morning, ready to start my journey. This journey is different than any other journey that I have encountered. This journey is my life’s journey, a journey of fulfillment, of self-value, of purpose. As I go to the barn, I see other men saddling up their horses so that they could go to the market, to the fields, or to their significant other. To them, riding a horse is just a form of transportation. To me, riding a horse is a means to achieve clarity of the mind, body, and soul. When I am on my horse, I feel free. My mind is clear. I release my inner inhibitions. Riding clears my thoughts and purifies my soul. As I get on my horse, I am ready to embark on my journey for self-discovery.
I look out into the distance and admire nature. Sometimes, I feel as if nature were more than mere rocks and trees but a symbolism of life’s everyday occurrences. Falling leaves are like the downtrodden who were once forgotten. The leaves, like the downtrodden, are stepped upon every day and no one seems to care. As I stop to look at nature, my friend Danny from up the road comes up to me. “What are you doing?” he asks. “Marveling at God’s creation,” I replied. Danny looks at me like I have gone crazy. He looks around him, shrugs his shoulders, and walks on. I guess he does not feel the same way that I do.
I finally decide to start down the path. I nudge my horse to move on through the distance. As I trod along this trail, I noticed a strange man lying on the side of the road. He looked like he had not had a decent meal in days and his only form of companionship was his surroundings. The man looked disheveled, oppressed, but yet defiant. He had this odd look in his eyes, eyes of meaning and desire. These eyes were not seen on every regular person that walks your way. I stopped in front of him and introduce myself. He says, “My name is Oscar. I have been lying here for many days and many people pass me everyday. Some people turn and look away. Others do not even notice me here. No one has ever actually stopped to talk to me or try to help me except for you.” I asked Oscar what I could do to help. Oscar digressed, “Your kindness has done enough to satisfy me for the day.” When he said this, I knew that although I had been nice to him, I could not leave him here alone. “If you want, you can come with me up the path. There I can offer you shelter, food, and water until you find a reasonable job that will allow you to provide for yourself.” Oscar thanked me and said, “You truly are one of the most blessed men that God has ever made. I thank you for your generosity and sincerity.” When he said that, a feeling of immense pride, joy, and significance filled my spirit. I noticed that helping others always gave me this warm feeling inside. I was satisfied with myself when I could make someone smile or make someone cry for happiness. Helping others was no longer just my passion but my vocation. And, for the first time in my life, I realized then that my journey for self-discovery and self-fulfillment could finally be achieved.
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