The Alchemist

"When people consult me, it's not that I'm reading the future; I am guessing at the future. The future belongs to God, and it is only he who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances. How do I guess at the future? Based on the omens of the present. The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity." -- page 103.

"Isn't wine prohibited here?" the boy asked. It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil," said the alchemist. "It's what comes out of their mouths that is." -- page 115.

Above are just a couple of the great passages from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. It is a wonderful story about life, offering inspiration to those seeking higher meaning, everlasting love, a true calling, or a way to navigate tough times. At just about 160 pages, it is an engaging and fast read. I read it in less than 2 hours (on the train to BWI, finishing it before landing at LIT).

Pick it up at B&N or Amazon.

Hope

I hope everyone's prayers and wishes of hope will come true. Indeed Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th president, and I congratulate him. But can the president-elect live up to his hype?

Only time will tell.