LOVE, Kloudiia

Okay, this retreat has got its ups and downs. I mean, times when I really enjoyed myself, and times when I was struggling to keep my eyes open!

The ice-breaking game was real fun, first time I ever played such a game. And I must say it really has the effect to let you know more friends within that time period when the game was played. Hmm, kudos to the youths who thought of this idea!

Now is the time for me to pen down my thoughts on what I feel I have gained the most from this spiritual vacation.

There were 2 things that left the deepest impression on me. One of them was the movie we saw on the first day – “The Truman Show”. Starring Jim Carrey, this movie talks about a man whose entire life has been on the silver screen, since the first day he was born. Or rather even when he was still in his mother’s womb? In the beginning of the show, I was fighting hard to stay awake, as it seems quite boring. However, it didn’t take me too long to realise that this is a really meaningful movie that is very worth paying my every cent of attention to. So I glued my eyes to it till the end.

I will not mention the details of this movie, if you had seen it I hope you took some time to reflect upon this show. If you haven’t, then really, go grab a DVD.

There was a group sharing where we were given 3 questions to answer, based on what we learnt from the movie. Each group will nominate someone to present to the whole audience. Thinking that it will be a group by group arrangement, I sat there and waited for my turn to be called.

No! It soon dawned on me that it does not work that way. Because not all groups will be going up to share. So when they announce who is going to volunteer to share, for the last group, guess what, I felt a deep “calling” inside me that I have to stand up and share this one apparent concept that hit me in the show – The Hero’s Journey.

Talk about 100% participation. The one commitment that we want the participants to live and breathe by in the Patterns of Excellence. As a coach, shouldn’t I walk the talk? And so I did.

Truman’s Hero Journey

Truman was indeed going through his hero’s journey, when he received a calling and he chose to answer that. He went through many hardships and outwitted the director and all his on-screein buddies and even wife and mother just to find out the truth. The truth about his life. He encountered countless demons (basically all of them in his life), yet he still remain undaunting and unwavered. Because he believed there is a truth out there, and he needs to seek this out.

God will always send us a guardian angel on this journey. In Truman’s journey, there is only but one, one such person who makes a difference to Truman’s life by sending him the message that catapulted him to the start of his hero’s journey. Eventually, did he triumph against the director of his life? Yes he did. And just at the instant when he was about to take that step out into the real world, a world where he no longer is protected, nothing is arranged for him anymore, life is not a routine, he was faced with that decision to make, for his life. He took it, unhesitantly, and went forth to venture his own life, the true Truman’s life.

One that is full of unexpected happenings, one that is not orchestrated by a director working behind the scenes. I applaud him for that.

But was that the end of his journey? Technically speaking yes. Truthfully, the second he took that major step, he has already achieved a milestone in his life, and he is opening another new chapter in his life. A total completely empty page waiting for him to fill. So, that was just the beginning.

And so, there I was, sitting there being awed by this uncanny coincidence that I should be looking at the Hero’s Journey acting out right before my eyes just when it was being taught in POE the night before. So if it wasn’t then I went up to share, then when is it going to be?

Alvin has a solid series of The Hero’s Journey that rocks! If you missed it out, do not miss it further. Download their free ebook now.

Life’s Truths – Real or Reel?

Besides this Hero’s Journey that caught my breath in this movie, it was also about the kind of truths we seek in life. Many times we choose to ignore something that we ought to know, about ourselves, our friends, our loved ones, our career, our health etc. Maybe the truth is too scary, maybe it entails too much pain for us to know much less acknowlege.

The Truman Show also brings to me this revelation. We could be under the constant watch of some people. If we had known that we were being observed, how does that make our life different?

Would we put in our best in whatever we do so that we don’t screw up in front of others? Would we dare to take up challenges so that we could display courage and bravery to the world, or would we do the opposite for fear of being laughed at when you fail? Would we get frustrated, or fascinated? Would we feel trapped from being watched, or free to showcase our talents in front of a willing audience?

God’s Words

In the show, Christof is the God. He is the mastermind and soul behind the entire script and yes, he is the man running Truman’s life.

Yet, is he really God? Does he really have such rights to manage a person’s life and remove all his rights as a human completely? No, he is only playing God. For God gives us total freedom, He lets us have the right to exercise our free-wills.

As a human, are we prone to err? Yes, we all do. But what is different is, we believe that up there, there is this larger-than-life form who is watching over us. He is there to catch us when we fall, to encourage us when we feel doubtful, to motivate us when we feel drained, to calm us when we feel anxious. Most importantly, He is there to love us with all his heart, for we are all his children.

This is the same as what a parent should be. Give your children the freedom to pursue their dreams, but be there to comfort them when they feel the stress or when they failed.

This is also what a spouse should be. Give your partner the support in the things he/she set out to do, even if they may seem quite impossible to begin with. If both parties had laid out all the concerns regarding that crazy adventure and came to an agreement that yes you should do this, then do it with all your might. Even if it fails, as a husband, just be there to hold your wife in your arms and let her know you will be there for her. Gently. No solutions or advices needed. We only need a strong and tender shoulder and a patient and willing listening ear. As a wife, do not start nagging, but just sit beside him, and tell him that it’s okay, there are no failure, only learning experiences, and you believe that he will make a comeback.

Ok, that’s all for now. I shall reveal the deeper stirrings I got in Part 2 of My Retreat Harvest.

[tags]Retreat,Hero’s Journey,Goals,Personal Growth,Dreams,Success,Truman show[/tags]