What poisons our ability to pursue our passions?
“Emperor…. we have found the untouchable!” hissed the old court advisor as he prostrated himself on the ground before the ruthless tyrant.
“Daichi, are the prophecies true? Is there really a young man who is skilled enough to overthrow me and my entire imperial army?” inquired the Emperor.
“I am afraid it is so, your Highness. I have seen this young man’s skill with my very own eyes. He disarmed three of your spies with the mere flick of his wrists the other day” shuttered the advisor.
“Nonsense!” bellowed the Emperor as he shot up from his golden throne with indignation. “Send a dozen of my assassins and execute this untouchable at once!”
“No, we must not!” warned the advisor. “That would sure trigger another riot and revolt from the villagers! Your reputation is already on unsteady ground. I have another proposal that may quell this threat without even lifting a single finger to strike him.”
“Speak old man. You have my attention” ordered the Emperor.
“The untouchable’s family owns a measly little rice field in the nearby village. If we poison the waters that irrigate his land, his family will grow sick and their household will inevitably fall into poverty. The rising burden of responsibly to provide for his family will not only distract him from his plans to overthrow you… It will also extinguish the very flames that fuel his prophetic call.” cackled the court advisor with a devious smile.
In the nights that followed, barrels of clear toxic chemicals were secretly poured into the nearby streams that ran into the untouchable’s rice fields. As his family and his fields began to fade, all the untouchable’s plans and efforts to overthrow the evil tyrant were gradually flushed away. For he was too busy begging on the streets and no longer had any more time to train in the dojo.
Our fears and increasing sense of responsibilities may sometimes distort our ability to see what we are truly called to do in our lives. It is only when we momently shake off these external pressures by reexamine our childhood hobbies, that we are able to rediscover the clues that point us to our ideal adult careers and life-long callings.
