It’s currently 12:30 AM here in Philadelphia. For me personally, the most profound philosophical thoughts hit in the dead of night, normally as I stare out into the lights of the city. It just so happens that tonight, I was thinking of faith, destiny and the course of my life.
So sit back and enjoy this short (but hopefully sweet) journal-entry style post.
Let me start by saying this. I’m a physics major, and have been scientifically inclined for as long as I can remember (Verrel and Khalifa can probably tell you). My love for spirituality aside, there is no part of my brain that will readily accept something it can’t see. So believing in a higher power is tough. And believing in universal laws I can’t test myself – like Karma and vibrational energy – is even tougher. Add to this the fact that I have no particular religious affiliations, and by now you’re probably wondering why I’m writing a post about faith.
My answer: because I’ve experienced its power, first-hand.
Faith has driven me to accomplish things I’d previously thought impossible. Faith that I could study at a college I loved in the US, when both financial and academic hardships knocked. Faith that I would get that research internship accepting under 20% of applicants. Faith that I would make friends in a new city where I new nobody.
Faith has also motivated me to face the next moment when life seemed intolerable. To believe that things would soon be okay when nothing in that moment was. To trust that the pain had a reason and wouldn’t last forever. To keep going.
And what did I have faith in, you ask? To tell you the truth, I have no idea. Let me assure you that I’ve never seen, heard or touched a higher power if it exists. I guess you could say I had faith in “the process”. My intuition seems to know that there are universal laws which, at least for now, my brain can’t comprehend. I can’t prove them to you. But when I need the comfort, I know that things have happened for a reason, and that things will eventually be OK. I just have to keep being true to myself, and keep going.
Steve Jobs said it best at his 2005 Stanford commencement speech.
Thanks for tuning in to this more personal post of mine! Admittedly, part of the inspiration for writing this was knowing that I will likely need to read my own words again when things get tough. So if this helped in any way at all, I’m beyond honored.
– Dvij
Feature image credit: Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash
