Faith in the known

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I recently changed my phone’s home screen wallpaper. It now reads “Always find time for things that make you happy to be alive”. Maybe that’s why I am writing all over again after 21 weeks of absolute silence. Lately, I have been getting a lot of signs to take life a little easy and let it take its natural course.

For twenty-one years of my existence on this planet, I was a planner. I had meticulously charted out every step of the way with almost an eerie sense of confidence that I WILL make it come true. But as life would have it, here I am now, far far away from where I thought my life would be.

Does that mean I abhor the life I have right now? Absolutely not! Rather I am so grateful for where I am right now that I have begun to wonder how predictable and monotonous my life would have been if it went exactly as I planned it.

All things come together in time…I have always loved this chapter in the Holy Bible that reads, “For everything, there is a season, a time to celebrate and to mourn, a time to reap and sow”. It goes on and on emphasizing the importance of letting life take its natural course and living life one day at a time.

I used to be scared of the uncertainty, but now, it excites me. Every day feels like a new adventure where we rise and fall and get back up again. I now remember something my dad always says, “As long it doesn’t kill you, all is well!”

I graduate with a master’s degree in another two weeks. An era is coming to an end for me and many of the people I love and cherish. The quintessential question, “What plans next?” is circling in all our minds and yet for me, somehow, through almost a miracle, instead of the fear of the unknown, it is my faith in the known that’s keeping me going.

Now, what do I mean when I say, ‘Faith in the Known’. Well even though I have zero clue about my life ahead, my past is proof enough that things will eventually work out. Even if I can not see the road ahead, looking back, I do see how far I have come. The knowledge, skills, abilities, life, love, relationships, pain, conflict, betrayal, tiredness, numbness and procrastination – we all have come a long way in life.

A friend of mine during her farewell received a message that said, “Live life in the moment”. Well, I think it is time for me to live by it. Now if you are someone stuck in a rut of the fear of the unknown, now would be the time to just look back and see how wonderful life has come together for each one of us, through all trials and challenges. My best friend and I in all times of trouble almost jokingly sing “We shall overcome…”

Now with this newfound understanding, I truly believe that all of us will overcome, whatever is ahead of us. And while life is taking its course, let’s hold on to the faith we find from looking at our life and being grateful for how far we have come and believe in how far we will go.

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