Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

Perhaps we do not want to be remembered. Perhaps we do not want to be praised either. Perhaps we desire no fame. Perhaps we choose instead to live quietly. Perhaps we prefer no one knew we existed. Perhaps we choose instead to serve the highest forces in the universe. Perhaps we choose to be unseen. Perhaps we focus on our highest creativity, our dreams. Perhaps our purest art is grace. Perhaps on occasion we astonish even the gods. Perhaps we do so by dwelling in the realm of pure light. Perhaps we learn to transcend boundaries. Perhaps even our ways are still young. Perhaps we prefer to wake up every day with humility. Perhaps we are joyful for all that lies before us. Perhaps all we want is to increase light. Perhaps we choose to spread illumination. Perhaps  the mystery of our lives is this creativity and grace within. Perhaps our purpose then is to be light. Maybe then more will understand why we are like children.

The past couple of weeks have made me question my purpose, made we wonder out loud whether anything I still do matters. It’s in these moments that I turn back to things full of light and nothing gives more credence to a life unseen than Ben Okri’s book Astonishing the Gods. These lines from the book keep me in awe of the universe and its purpose for those who dwell in light.

“The best things in the world, dwell in the realm of pure light. From there, they spread their highest influence to all corners of the universe, to stones, and men and worms and even to stars and dead angels. We learn to be masters of the art of transcending boundaries when go beyond the illusion that is behind illusion.”

Imagine when you question your purpose, question whether what you say or do matters, imagine too that you know it doesn’t and that you will always be unseen while those who are preferred will always be preferred no matter what you say or do. If you know all this and then feel the need to question again your purpose, I hope you find the time to read Ben Okri’s book and in the process learn why your purpose is quietly simply to astonish God with your light like a child.