I Began...

It happened while I was reading the opening preface of my latest literary fixation: A compilation of all three volumes of The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee. After I read those two words, I missed the essence of his sentence. For a minute, whatever else the author was trying to say was completely lost on me. Those two words struck me and drowned out the sounds of the office buzzing around me. They floated around in my mind and impressed themselves on my internal eye. Two words glowing in the night: I began.

Watchman Nee said that he felt "commissioned of the Lord" to undertake the task of writing a book that would explain man's spiritual composition in a simple, straightforward and easily understandable manner. The next sentence starts with those two dynamic words: "I began". He started immediately ... he started at all. He didn't leave his impression as an impression, but acted with immediacy on his belief. And now, here I am, reading the completion - the fulfillment - of this dream.

And all because he began.

What does it take for a man to begin? How does he define the realm that should be his ideal starting point? Is there such a thing as an ideal starting point? Aren't all points in life axes on which we can build the momentum for the next phase, for action that takes us to the next level?

Watchman Nee may not be your favourite author. His religion may not be yours. But, if you take anything away from this post, let it be this: Wherever you are, whatever your name, age, grade or stage, if there's a dream in your heart and a desire in your mind (that is noble and positive and laced with integrity), begin. Begin it now. Let today be the day when you say, "I began."