Tags
Arches National Park, Essay, God, Life, Mesa Arch, Musings, Philosophy, Thanksgiving, Utah
On this gorgeous Thanksgiving day, with The Hobbit’s “Misty Mountain Cold” music playing in the background, somehow a familiar spirit awakened inside of me – the same fervent fire I felt some years ago flooded my thumping heart once more, sending nostalgic reminders of who I really am.
I prayed a long time ago for life to be kind to me, back when I was deliriously exhausted from the travails that life threw at me so early in life. I remember this so vividly. Nay, I can never forget the spirit that helped me overcome and escape the poverty of the place and the family I was born into. I cannot count the number of endless nights when I arduously beseeched the heavens, so feverishly that I can feel my spirit writhing in pain as I engaged in an ethereal battle with the God I cannot see.
I prayed, nay, I begged and lamented to Him to please be kind to me, to please bless me, to give me a life that is kind and filled with opportunities to pursue joy and happiness. I pleaded for the tremendous favor to taste and experience the beauty and bounty of this beautiful blue planet, where I am only limited by my own apprehensions and fear.
I promised to never betray that blessing, to never let it slip my mind where I came from, to never forget the torturous years in college, when it would rain and a waist-deep flood, along with the stench and filth of the entire city seemed to have overtaken my frail body, ready to claim me once and for all. To this day, I still remember how, on my way to the university without food in my stomach, I so desired satisfying my hunger for that mouth-watering smell that could only come from the donut I couldn’t afford. I was so hungry.
Eventually, God got so tired of my constant badgering that He finally relented to this poor child’s prayer. He brought me here, to you, where I can finally pursue that life that was meant for me. I fought with the God I cannot see and somehow, He let me win. Thank you for this unbelievable life.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
So touching my dear friend. Reminded me of my share of struggle in my early life too. We can only appreciate the sweetest of life’s sweet if we have tasted the bitterest of life’s bitter. That’s why you are a very compassionate generous and sweet person. Love your photos as always:)
Thank you sweetie! It was definitely a long and difficult road to finish college but I know in my heart that it was the only way out of the poverty cycle. I’m just thankful for the courage and talent to be able to accomplish that… And for the support and effort of my family to send me to school… Those struggles made me appreciate life more :). Mwah :*
Lovely photo, Nakita!
If you like photography, we’d like to invite you to participate in our next Travel Photography Competition. Here are the details:
http://hitchhikershandbook.com/your-contributions/travel-photography/
Happy travels!
Thank you so much! I will definitely check it out. Cheers