Our first weekend in South Africa, our hosts decided to take my entire team to Hopewell Conservatory Estates, about 20-30 minutes from Central PE. It was truly a wonderful experience (I have a video in the works). At the house we were staying at, there is a very small, probably unintentional library of about 10 books. Being a book lover, once I spotted them, I had to read the covers, titles, and jacket summaries (if deemed intriguing). There were one or two that stood out, but once I felt I had to read, The Prophet (Khalil Gibran). So, I put it down and walked away, only to later see Alexa engrossed in it. Once she finished, she told me that I had to read it because I would love it. So, I picked it up, started reading, had a hard time putting it down (except to eat), and soon enough had to pack to leave. Ultimately, I got ahold of a different copy, finished, and here we are.
There is something truly wonderful about how a truly talented artist can convey their thoughts so beautifully through any medium. Gibran did just that. The Prophet is honestly a work of art that touches the soul and leaves it forever changed. The prophet sets out on a journey to return to his homeland, as he says his farewells, someone stops him so the townspeople can hear from him one last time. The Prophet explores an array of topics and challenges one’s notions on most, if not all of them, from love to death. The way that Gibran paints death is truly freeing and makes me appreciate death, and life, so much more.
“And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.” (51-52)
I want to encourage you to read this short collection of thoughts, and then let me know what you think in the comment section below, or by email ([email protected]).
Angie’s World Race Library
- The Autobiography of George Muller
- Dance, Stand, Run (Jess Connelly)
- Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka)
- The Prophet (Khalil Gibran)
- CURRENTLY: The Axeman’s Jazz (Ray Celestin)
