Cycle of Time

5.A purpose not a destination

Noah had started on this journey with a purpose but not a destination. In his forties now, he had already become world weary. He still struggled to find meaning; meaning in things he did every day. He had read that a journey can sometimes help see this meaning, and so he had decided to journey. He still had not realised what he was searching for, a year after starting his journey. But he felt this strange unrest within him. It was not as if he was about to find purpose, but more of a sense of dissatisfaction. Even so the journey had been enjoyable thus far. He had learned to enjoy each moment and learned how to move in to the inner sanctum of being in the moment, even though the end wasn't clear. Liam and Ava had joined him almost accidently. They were two adventurous orphans who had decided to run away. Except they got lost until Noah found them. Running away seemed to be a habit now; this was not the first time. They were also searching for something, but they probably had aclearer idea of what it was. While Noah wanted to find meaning, they wanted to belong and feel safe.

They had been lost in the forest for a few days and were up in a tree. Noah in his wondering had settled down one night under this very same tree, and had started to meditate.

At first, the creatures of the forest, as well as the brother and sister had been wary of this stranger in their midst. It was a strange spectacle to see. The squirrels and the birds observed Noah warily at first, and then sensing that he meant no harm, gradually lost their inhibitions and started go about their business. Even when he opened his eyes from his meditation, they did not mind. It was as if they could feel his vibes were good and kind. It was these same vibes that Liam and Ava sensed. They decided to climb down the tree. The rest of the story was as it is, Noah took them under his wings and they joined him on his journey, now not one but three were looking for something.

"The purpose of any journey is the journey, the destination is the by-product" Noah said. But Ava and Liam could feel a sense of uncertainty in his voice.

"You've said this about a thousand times now" Ava sighed.

"I think I want to know what the by product will turn out to be" Liam couldn't resist.

Where do you think that dragon went? We never saw it again".

"I don't even think it was a real dragon" there is higher chance of it being an alien spaceship".

"But it was adragon,"Ava said with certainty.

Liam and Ava where both hell bent on winning this argument.

"Give me proof that it was a dragon".

"What is the proof it wasn't?"

Liam thought for a while and then continued to argue.

"Well it didn't breathe fire" Liam retorted.

There was silence as they both realised different things about the dragon.

"Well you believe dragons breathe fire; then you must also believe in fire breathing dragons".

"I do not" Liamr ealised that he was up against the wall.

"You just said you do".

The argument went on and on. Noah couldn't remember what else was said. He had drifted into his own world. Did the dragon have to be this mystical creature that nobody had seen but everybody knew? Could it be that when you saw it, it could be different from what you believed? Could someone miss the dragon because of this? Do we miss this all the time, dragons or no dragons? Noah was pulled away from his thoughtful world by Ava pulling at his sleeve. "Come on Noah Please tell Liam that dragons are for real" she was pleading.

"I'm sorry Ava I'm not sure myself if it was a dragon".

There were tears in Ava's eyes now, and Liam felt sad for his younger sister.

"Well then you shouldn't have told her it was one at that time" he was now talking on behalf of his sister.

"Wait a bit "I only said that I wasn't sure. Ava is sure and it is a dragon for her. Ava has seen the dragon. For the rest of us who are not sure, we still have to search for our dragons, our magic". "Maybe that's what the destination is about for you and me".

Ava was happy now. Noah winked at her secretively as he said this to Liam. Noah did believe in Ava's dragon.