Yes "You" Can

Recently a friend encouraged me to listen to a podcast with Oprah Winfrey. It was recorded 10 years ago, and she was interviewing Paulo Coelho, who is the author of the “The Alchemist”. This book is one of the best sellers of all time, and the influence behind the name of my business. In addition it’s a great talking point of connection with my customers, since many of them have either read it, or heard of it. This always becomes a topic of conversation when they see my name and logo. It immediately helps them realize there’s something more going on with the coffee and concept. I’m not a cookie cutter franchise, although I always have to thank my franchise background for inspiring the organization of running my business. It’s something more small businesses should research and learn.

As I listened to the podcast I was reminded of the great lie of this world, “that you don’t control your destiny”. This is a paraphrase from the book, in addition a quote I heard from the football player Ricky Williams, that still influences me today. Many will fight us on this thought, including Oprah herself. She does a really nice job interviewing, but very often she lets her politics undermine this thought. When we complain about society victimizing us or others, we often loose sight of our destiny/calling. We then turn to why we can’t achieve it, because we are a victim. I trust Oprah doesn’t believe this, because this is exactly why she became one of the most successful women in the history of our modern society. Sadly her and many others will loose focus of that, and over empathize with others, which can lead to victimhood.

This fine line is very polarizing in our society and politics, but I like to look at the winners of history. I was watching a documentary on PBS called “The Black Church”. Growing up I was always in awe of the black culture, along with many other immigrant cultures. I was in awe how they came to America with nothing, but despite what you hear on TV they all became something. Black slaves, who found freedom in a new world that became only the 4th country at the time to abolish slavery. European’s who wanted to escape the old way of things, and find a new life of prosperity in the New World. Asians in modern time, who were oppressed by the spread of communism and poverty in their homelands. I can go on and on with the personal stories I’ve read and heard, but I want to focus on one thing, they all found success and peace despite the challenges of this land.

To start, as I watched this documentary I was reminded that in the time that was far darker than our current climate, this culture of people found a way through their faith. They started small, but through their small seminaries, they eventually built big colleges, we today call a Historical Black College or University (HBCU’s). This similar thought originated through the Catholic Church, that saw something useful in founding a university and hospital system. What began as a small thought to serve the needs of a community flourished into something bigger.

What inspires me about the black culture of the 1800’s and on, is that the modern era tells me these things are impossible to do today. I even had my own struggles growing up as I watched everyone get some kind of assistance, except for me. Because I was white, I was the last qualifying candidate for assistance. Even when I would go through the process for financial aid, it was discouraging, and so I never really followed through with college. These are things that were my own fault though. My sister worked hard enough, thanks to a Puerto Rican step-mom that held us accountable when it came to spending an hard work. She graduated with an MBA and no student loans. Her great choices led to the peace and prosperity she sought, despite our upbringing. She made good choices, while I was not making the best choices.

As I began to look around at all races and cultures in our country, I saw every one of them had successful people, despite their circumstances. At the heart of all this success was the fact that they knew hard work, and good choices will lead to great success eventually. In addition everyone of them had some kind of faith, whether it was in God to move mountains, or themselves, they trusted one day things will work out. They all took control of their destiny, instead of placing it in the hands of someone else. To note, when we put our trust in God, we can let go of the steering wheel sometimes, which technically means we aren’t in control. However that’s still a choice we made, to trust the Divine Creator, who knows what he designed us for. Our government, parents, and society did not create us. I was reminded this by Paulo Coelho’s story. His family and local government locked him up 3x because he wanted to be an artist, which didn’t fit their idea of a good life. Eventually he trusted his calling, and after some failure, he found success, despite the society around him that tried to oppress.

In close, we should always encourage a just world. Fighting for it can become unhealthy in many respects. I see this in the middle east. You hear Arabs, Jews, and Christians want to get along, but many share a personal story that it’s the politics' that divide them in the society in many respects. They all acknowledge a complex history, but the majority just want to live their lives, but can’t due to fighting created by the politics. Our world will never be perfect, we are broken humans, and just as Jesus Christ taught, only He can (re)unite us. The Last Supper is this exact moment, where he reunites the 12 tribes of Israel, and then includes the Gentiles through the gospel and catholic (universal church), through baptism.

Sadly we have become divided again just like the Jews, due to our seeking of a political messiah, through many different political ways and religious traditions reinterpreting what Jesus and his historical followers taught (patristic era teaching). If you study history, and learn from others’ mistakes, you will also learn all those who found success learned from their mistakes, and trusted in their calling never making excuses, but instead found solutions. George Washington failed multiple times, until destiny finally had its day. In his case he was a reluctant leader every time he was chosen. It’s one thing to start the fight, it’s another thing when the fight chooses you and you are called to lead. Always discern carefully.

Mother Mary Lange, a great story of perseverance through challenging times. She founded the first African American religious congregation in the Catholic Church.