I want to tell you a story…
There was a man trapped in a less-than-desirable life and, though he had an inkling of an idea that he was called to a higher plane of being, he couldn’t see his way out of his cage.
That is, until he caught a glimpse of where he wanted to be.
Like the man in the parable, he had found a pearl of great price and wanted it more than anything else in life. To obtain it, he would have to give up so much and work much harder than he ever dreamed possible. To him, this vision of his future, this pearl of great price, became his inspiration and the impetus to propel him along the path to greatness and happiness.
To obtain this pearl, he had to turn his back on his past. He had to deafen his ears to the calls of gratification and convenience. He had to step completely out of his comfort zone, facing uncomfortable situations. He had to give up everything that meant something in order to earn that vision he had caught a glimpse of.
By now, I’m sure you are thinking, “I’ve seen that movie. Yeah! That’s that movie, The Pursuit of Happyness.” and you would settle back in your chair, nodding your head with contentment and the self-assurance that comes with knowing a particular piece of information.
Then I would tell you this. The story I told you is not about Chris Gardner and the plotline is not from the movie depicting his life, The Pursuit of Happyness. This story is about a man who caught a glimpse of a better future; a man who went in pursuit of happiness.
Unlike Chris Gardner’s character in the movie, the woman who loved this man never left him, but increased her level of already unwavering support for his dreams. She knew his potential but also knew there was much he had to do on his own… she just had no idea how much he would have to go through and how much pain and hardship lay ahead for both of them.
This woman also knew she could not do what the man needed to do for himself and, in light of this knowledge, set out on a hard path of support and love, armed only with dogged faith, unrelenting prayer, and a belief that could not be shaken.
This man’s name is Jason Cooper… and his story is only beginning.
