The very first Friday Reflection story was told 25 years ago this week, and there have been 1000+ stories since then. Here is one to reflect on 25 magnificent years.
Point to Ponder:
"Treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that treasure is the journey itself, the discoveries you make, and the wisdom you acquire." Anna Hassapi
Storyline: by Rajiv Shah
In Paulo Coelho's, "The Alchemist," Santiago is young shepherd who hears the distant calling to leave his town and explore the pyramids in search of a treasure. It starts off as little more than a dream that grows into an obsession. At first Santiago believes getting to the pyramids is a dream that is meant to stay that way, but something eats away at him, an internal pull suggesting something more - the promise of happiness. Santiago finally cannot deny the pull any longer and goes in search of this dream much to the disapproval and doubt of his relatives and neighbors.
Santiago doesn't make it to Egypt at first but gets marooned in Morocco when he is robbed of his belongings. He is stuck working there, trying to raise the money needed to reach the pyramids. Santiago begins to doubt his decision to chase this dream of his but he presses on.
Santiago is finally able to earn enough to leave Morocco winding his way into the desert and falls in love. He is about to give up on his dream, satisfied with spending his life with this girl but she encourages him to press on. Reluctantly he continues on.
Finally arriving at the pyramids Santiago finds them to be not as he imagined, not paved with gold or as magnificient as he dreamed. He returns back to the girl he loves and back to his home, a changed person. His Dream (destination) wasn't what he had imagined but it was the pursuit - the struggle, the journey - in which he found life.
Reflection by Anand Shah: Something that started out as stories told to our children on Friday evening rides is now enjoyed by people around the world in over 150 countries. In recent years, a few others have joined in sharing their stories on Fridays. Thank You all for 25 wonderful years.
As The Alchemist says to Santiago "When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true".