Chewing Cud

 

When cows eat, they quickly stuff one of their stomachs until they’re full. They then go off to a corner, relax and start bringing up the hurriedly eaten food to be chewed again properly, and sent on to a different stomach. (Or so I recall from my Agriculture class, taken those many decades ago).

Ruminating is the name of the process. And I like to ruminate on nuggets of wisdom I read from books. Every once in a while, I’ll take out everything I’ve read by one author and go over it again. Last year I went over books by both Paulo Coelho and Maya Angelou.

Today I want you to ruminate with me on 5 quotes from Paulo Coelho that have made an impact on my understanding of life. of course, there are many more from his extensive collection of works and it was not easy picking the top 5 but here goes:

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ~ The Alchemist

This was a book I read three times before the floodlights came on and I really got IT. And this is the secret to manifesting what you really desire – you have to really desire it and be ready to have that desire tested. Remain unflinching in your focus toward having that thing and pass the tests that the universe throws your way.

“Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” ~ By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

Those who got through the 2020-2021 pandemic know what it means to hang on indefinitely wanting the ordeal to end yet every time the restrictions came up for review, somehow the virus found out and the numbers went up, keeping us locked and waiting. Have you ever had to wait for something? Were you patient or impatient? Did your impatience speed things up for you?

“Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.” ~ Brida

Have you ever listened to your internal dialogue, especially when making a major decision? Some of us would never entertain such talk from another person but we indulge our doubts and critical selves. Give yourself grace, you can never be 100% always wrong. And even when you’re wrong, to err is human. Pick yourself up and take another shot.

“There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.” ~ The Fifth Mountain

Hindsight, is that you? Don’t be too quick to ‘curse God and die’ – you might just be the pawn that the Lord needs to win a game of chess with the devil. Hang in there, it will eventually either make sense or work out for your good.

“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” ~ Veronika Decides to Die

Do you know that saying about the light at the end of the tunnel? Well, sometimes the light be damned – all you want is to be out of that tunnel! And you wait in hope for that one thing, but when the wait is over, the direction you’d hoped to go in is the polar opposite of where you are led! Have you ever encountered such a scenario? Are you in one? Is your source of courage dependable?

These 5 quotes and dozens more keep me company during my times of contemplation and some have been my beacons during times of hardship or transition.

Read them again, ruminate upon them, and be honest about your thoughts about each of them. Do they tell you something about yourself? Is there room to learn and grow? Are there changes you need to make?