Ruiz,
I appreciated your thoughts on the story from Light from Many Lamps with the history of the motto, “This, too, shall pass away.” The reminder that all things in this life – good, bad and ugly – are temporary is a truth which can help us grow, endure hardship, and persevere through tough circumstances.
I love your attitude about challenging yourself, setting big goals and not being afraid to dream. Taking on this MA Lead program has definitely been a challenge for me and I hear you when you express your desire to grow so that you can make a great impact on society. That is an honourable goal!
I would certainly agree with you that life can end up a little less than rewarding when we achieve goals which we believed would be fulfilling and meaningful. As a follower of Jesus, I’m reminded that in many ways this world and the life I live here will never fully satisfy the deepest desires inside of me, regardless of what kind of academic achievement or career success or financial gain I’m able to find. There will always be something beyond the limits of what I’ve achieved which will continue to pull me forward.
So, in some ways, the motto reminds us that all things shall pass away and, yet, perhaps this is an expression of a deeper desire for something eternal, something everlasting, something which will never, ever pass away. I have found that the ability to fix my eyes and my heart on those things are what allow me to find meaning, purpose, hope and fulfillment.
You have many people cheering you on in this journey of discovery!