Like the Flowing River

Fear… and what it can do to us… can be debilitating.  Instead have faith in yourself, your dreams, and for those who believe in a higher being, you will be supported through all of life’s various challenges.  These messages and the stories surrounding this author’s decision to be a writer form the theme of this book, which was written by Paulo Coelho.  Coelho’s book of short stories and articles, called Like the Flowing River, was written in 2004, but has material from many decades of his work.  Coelho shares the story of his conversation with his mother when he decides that being a writer is his life dream, though she explains that it is not the kind of profession he should follow.  The book is deeply rooted in Coelho’s faith tradition, Catholicism, and draws from stories in the Bible.  Yet he also shares stories and fables from other faith traditions, especially Muslim.  His belief is that “It” really doesn’t matter what supreme- being you believe in, as they are really the same “God.”  It is just the traditions we celebrate that make how we act out our faith that is different.  His stories are lessons he has learned in life.  Rich, simplistic and very easy to take away the lesson.  All of the stories are quite short but have powerful messages.  I love how he brings in nature (wind, the clouds, the sand, and living animals).  At points I feel as if he is the new Thoreau, venturing into a new domain, a new version of Walden.  This was one of the best books as it made me reflect on faith, earth’s natural resources, human frailties, and the fear we all have within ourselves which holds us back from meeting our truest potential.  He often has an older character that dispenses “wisdom” to a younger person.  My favorite of these is the “Story of the Pencil” in which the grandmother describes the utensil she is using to write her story and how she hopes that her grandson will grow up like the pencil.  It is not like other pencils and she describes the five qualities that makes it different.  By having these qualities, she explains, you will be at peace with the world:

First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps.  We call that hand God, and he always guides us according to His will.

Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener.  That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper.  So you too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you better.

Third quality: the pencil allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes.  This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing: it helps us on the road to justice.

Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not it wooden exterior, but the graphite inside.  So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

Fifth quality: it always leaves a mark.  In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your actions.

Profound messages, but stated simply.  Coelho offers reflection on social issues facing his own country of Brazil to President Bush’s attack of Suddam Hussein of Iraq.  He has opinions on people being used and abused for political purposes.  While those who are not religious may take “offense” to the connection to a Supreme Being, the poetry of his words is quite beautiful.  The Alchemist, one of his earlier books, ranks in my top three favorite reads of all time so I was not surprised by how much this book “spoke to me.”  I strongly recommend this book and the stories, which may be best read over a longer period of time than in one sitting, which I did.  I have a feeling there are many short stories I will refer to in speeches and presentations I do in the coming year.  It may be the book I use for my speech to the RAs at their closing banquet in May.  Worth reading even if you are without a faith based tradition.