It's been six days since I went up the mountain. This entire time of challenges and experiences has made me grow a lot. I can more easily understand nature, myself and others. Nature marches to its beat and is opposed to the pretensions of human beings. We deforest the forests, pollute the waters, and release gases into the atmosphere. What do we get out of it? What really matters to us, money or our survival? The consequences are there: Global warming, reduction of flora and fauna, natural disasters. Does man not see that this is all his fault? There is still time. There is time for life. Do your part: Save water and energy, recycle waste, do not pollute the environment. Require your government to commit to environmental issues. It's the least we can do for ourselves and for the world. Coming back to my adventure, once I went up the mountain, I better understood my wishes and my limits. I understood that dreams are only made possible as long as they are noble and righteous. The cave is fair and if I win the third challenge, it will make my dream come true. When I won the first and second challenges, I came to better understand the wishes of others. The majority of people dream to have riches, social prestige and high levels of command. They no longer see what is best in life: Professional success, love, and happiness. What makes the human being exceptional are his qualities that shine through his work. Power, wealth, and social ostentation do not make anyone happy. This is what I am looking for in the sacred mountain: Happiness and total domain of the "opposing forces." I need to go out for a little. Step by step, my feet lead me outside the hut that I built. I hope for a sign of destiny.
The sun heats up, the wind gets stronger and no sign appears. How will I win the third challenge? How will I live with the failure if I am unable to carry out my dream? I try to move the negative thoughts out of my mind, but the fear is stronger. Who was I before climbing the mountain? A young man, totally insecure, afraid to face the world and its people. A young man who is a one day fought in court for his rights, but they were not granted. The future has shown me that this was best. Occasionally, we win by losing. Life has taught me that. Some birds screech around me. They seem to understand my concern. Tomorrow will be a new day, the seventh on top of the mountain. My destiny is risking with this third challenge. Pray, readers, that I may win.
The Third Challenge
A new day appears. The temperature is pleasant, and the sky is blue in all its immensity. Lazily, I get up, rubbing my sleepy eyes. The big day has arrived, and I am prepared for it. Before anything, I need to prepare my breakfast. With the ingredients that I managed to find the day before, it will not be so scarce. I prepare the pan and start cracking open the appetizing chicken eggs. The fat splashes and almost hits my eye. How many times in life, others seem to hurt us with their anxieties. I eat my breakfast, rest a little and prepare my strategy. The third challenge seems to be anything but easy. Killing for me is unthinkable. Well, even so, I will have to confront it. With this resolution, I start to walk, and soon I am out of the hut. The third challenge starts here, and I prepare for it. I take the first trail and I start to walk. The trees by the road of the path are wide with deep roots. What really am I looking for? Success, victory, and achievement. However, I will not do anything that goes against my principles. My reputation goes before fame, success, and power. The third challenge is bothering me. Killing for me is a crime, even if it is only an animal. On the other hand, I want to enter into the cave and make my request. This represents two "opposing forces" or "opposite paths."
I remain on the trail and pray that I do not find anything. Who knows, maybe the third challenge would be dismissed. I don't think that the guardian would be that generous. The rules have to be followed by all. I stop a little and cannot believe the scene that I see: an ocelot and its three cubs, frolicking around me. That's it. I will not slay the mother of three cubs. I do not have the heart. Goodbye success, goodbye cave of despair. Enough dreams. I did not complete the third challenge and I am leaving. I will return to my house and to my loved ones. Hurriedly, I go back to the cabin to pack my bags. I do not complete the third challenge.
The cabin is torn down. What is the meaning of all this? A hand touches my shoulder lightly. I look back and I see the guardian.
"My congratulations, dear! You have fulfilled the challenge and now have the right to enter into the cave of despair. You won!
The strong embrace she imparted on me then left me even more confused. What was this woman saying? My dream and the cave could be found after all? I didn't believe it.
"What do you mean? I did not complete the third challenge. Look at my hands: They are clean. I will not stain my name with blood.
"Don't you know? Do you think that a child of God would be capable of such an atrocity as that which I asked? I have no doubt that you are worthy enough to realize your dreams, although it may take a while for them to become reality. The third challenge thoroughly evaluated you and you demonstrated unconditional love for God's creatures. This is the most important thing for a human being. One more thing: Only a pure heart will survive the cave. Keep your heart and your thoughts clean to overcome it.
"Thank you, God! Thank you, life, for this chance. I promise not to disappoint you.
Emotion took a hold of me as it never had before I climbed the mountain. Was the cave really capable of performing miracles? I was about to find out.