This is a story about a knight in shining armor, who always wanted to be a cook.  He had a real passion for cooking, but was never allowed to, for that was reserved for his sisters.  From the day he was born, he was put in knight clothes, told stories about famous knights, and was groomed to become the best knight that ever lived.  At the age of 13 the boy became a junior knight and was allowed to ride his own horse with the older knights, once a year.  This was most exciting, for the real knights never even spoke with younger children, especially, the young knights.  For the real knights were to be respected, and that meant that the children were not allowed to speak to them, and could only speak when spoken to.  An event that rarely occurred

His parents were very proud of their young knight, for the father always wanted to be a knight himself.  The mother beamed with joy when she watched her young teen put on his little suit of armor, and mount his small horse.

The big day was arriving when, the now 13-year-old, could ride with the real knights through the town for the annual knight parade.  The boy was most excited, as he watched his sisters cooking and baking for the big event.  For they were going to have a feast that night, to celebrate his soon to be knight hood.  Every parent of the young knights gleamed with pride as they watched their young sons march through the town with their horses and armor, behind the great nights of the village.

The young knight enjoyed the parade as well, but felt that there was something empty deep inside of him.  He felt that something was missing, but he could not figure it out.  This was the big moment that he had waited some thirteen years for.  This was the proudest moment of his parent’s lives.  This was the day they had been waiting for.

Soon the young knight grew up and participated every year in the annual parade, when he reached his 18th birthday.  At that point, he was sent to knight school to go through the rigorous training that he waited his lifetime to achieve.  He would attend the training and be knighted on his 19th birthday.  That is, if he completed all that was asked and beyond.  For no knight achieves the minimum requirements, for that is a requirement as well – that all knights go beyond what is required.  A high bar indeed.

He worked day and night and practiced with his horse after the other trainees were sound asleep.  He sometimes stayed up throughout the night practicing his every move, for the big test that he must pass to achieve the coveted sword.

The big day came, and he was up for the test of knight hood on his nineteenth birthday.  His entire family was present with friends and relatives he barely had known.  The day was sunny and bright, and he was very well prepared.  Everyone had the utmost confidence in his abilities and could not wait until he received the sword of a knight.

He pursued the tests with confidence for he was a most confident trainee, a trait that all knights must possess.  When he approached the last test, one that involved his horse, and he in full armor, he thought for a moment about the empty feeling that he experienced many years earlier.  For that empty feeling in his stomach reappeared.  He could not figure out what it was about and tried desperately to push the feeling to the side, and out of his mind.  For he had to have the utmost concentration to pass the final test.

Finally, he was able to concentrate and proceeded to the final test.  After several long minutes, he was done.  He passed with full knighthood before him.

The crowd cheered, his parents beamed with pride, and he felt a warm smile come over his face.

When all of a sudden, he fell from his horse, and dropped to the ground.  His eyes went black, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Many years later, he awoke in a bed somewhere he had never before laid.  When he awoke, a nurse maid looked over and yelled with joy.  “He’s awake, he’s awake, get the doctor.”  A few minutes later a doctor looked over the bedside and began to speak to the young man.

“You had given us quite a scare.  After you passed your last test, you passed out and fell off of your horse.  That was three years ago.  You have been in a coma ever since.”

The man could not believe that he had been asleep for three years.  Would he still be a knight, what had happened?

He packed up what things they said were his, and went to his home many miles away.  When he walked through the front door, the entire family excited as they were, surrounded him in a big family hug.  They were so happy that he was alright and was awake and walking around.

The dad said that there was still time for him to go through the training before his 23rd birthday to become a knight.  For the test had expired and he needed to start all over.  He also had been lying dormant for many years and needed to regain his strength and stature.

The young man looked up at his father and looked him straight into the eye as he said, “Father, with all due respect, I do not want to be a knight, for I have other aspirations that I have always wanted to do.  I thought I wanted to be a knight, but then I realized that I only wanted it, because that is what you and Mother wanted of me.  That was never what I wanted to do for myself.  With that, I am asking your permission to pursue the profession and the dream that will make me most happy.”  The father looked heart-broken, for his dream was being broken.  Just like the day his son fell off the horse and was laid in a hospital bed, never to awaken.  Now, he was back, and the dream was shattered once again.

He looked at his wife, and slowly spoke these words, “son, if that is what you wish to do , you should be happy to pursue your dreams, for I always dreamed of being a knight, but followed the dream of my parents, and never pursued my own.  If your dream is not what I wish upon you, then be that as it may, for your dream is the only one that matters, and you should not deprive yourself as I had when I was your age.  Go into the world, pursue your dreams and know that I fully support you in whatever you do.”

“Thank you, thank you Father.  I will not disappoint you, you shall see”.

With that the boy left the house not to be seen again.

Then some many years later, the Father was visiting a nearby city when he stopped into a bakery to get some bread for his family.  The man behind the counter could not believe his eyes, for it was his father whom he had not seen for quite some time.  “Father, it is I your son.”  The man looked joyful and embraced the son, for many minutes.

Then the father asked, “son, why did you leave the family not to return?”

The son said, “Father, I wanted to be a baker and I didn’t think you would approve.”

With that, the Father said,  “didn’t you hear what I told you that night?”  I will support you in wherever your dreams  take you, for I admire you more than I did when you were about to become knighted.  For you have the courage to go after your dreams even when others wish for you to go elsewhere.

With that, the man and the Father kept in touch until the rest of their days.

Ω

InspiraCard

It is the person who has the courage to follow their dreams, to take the risks, to do the things that few others do, that are the ones who actually live their physical lives the way they had hoped when they made the decision to come to the physical world.  Go after your dreams, and never look back, for looking back serves no purpose.   Looking forward is the way to happiness, looking backwards only provides more reason to turn around and go home.

Written Nov 27, 2007