Nothing hits you quite as hard as a Problem.

Nothing hits you quite as hard as a devastating Problem. 

It beats the wind out of you. Leaves you stupefied, confused and stuck. And when you’re hit with one problem after another. It’s like a series of non-stop punches. Pummeling you to the ground. Without a moment to recover.

I’m personally going through a series of challenges. Challenges that are disrupting my routine, clouding my thinking and taking over my peace of mind.

However, I’ve found solace in a book.

One night, flipping through my Kindle, I came across the title “The Greatest Salesman in the World.” 

“I’m not much of a salesman,” I tell myself.  “Selling is a useful skill. Maybe I could learn a thing or two about selling from this book.” I start reading.  

It’s a tale of a masterful Salesman, Pathros wanting to pass down his wisdom to an apprentice, Hafid.  Pathros gives Hafid a challenge to sell a robe in the city of Bethlehem. After four days of being constantly rejected by the tough & ruthless markets, Hafid is left dazed. In despair he asks himself:

“Why do they close their door before I have said five words?  Why do they lose interest in my talk?  What is this fear that seizes me when I approach a closed door?”

Pathros eventually takes on Hafid as his apprentice and hands him 10 timeless scrolls. And it’s in these scrolls that I found Love, Strength and Courage.

Here are excerpts:

The Scroll on Love:

Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. 

I will love the sun for it warms my bones;  yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. 

I will love the light for it shows me the way;  yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. 

I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. 

I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge. 

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I speak? 

I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; 

I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. 

Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticise I will bite on my tongue; 

when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs. 

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? 

Cannot I speak with the same music to his children?

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

The Scroll on Living Each day as if it is my Last:

I will live this day as if it is my last.

This day is all I have. These hours are now my eternity. 

I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death.

I lift my arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day.

So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday’s sunrise who are no longer with the living today. 

I am indeed a fortunate man and today’s hours are but a bonus, undeserved. 

Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed?

Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. 

What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly gives all his gold?

I will avoid with fury the killers of time. 

Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence.

The duties of today I shall fulfil today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will I. 

Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomorrow she will be gone, and so will I. 

Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries.

I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

Read the book, friends.  Even better, listen to it! I found the Audible version of the book read by Mark Bramhall, really impactful.  In fact, it’s thanks to the audible version that I finished the book.