Blog
Fancy a story that makes you wonder about life?
Climbing the Camino del Inca
Spending some quality time in Cusco, Peru, to learn some more about the ancient Inca way of living. I’ve spent six days now with Don Hernan, one of my Paqo masters, who is considered a wisdom keeper of the Incas on the Path of the Pampa Mesayoc (Inca...
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Challenging God (Teenage-style)
What can happen if you boldly knock on Heaven’s Door, asking for a proof of God’s existence? With this question I kick off the second chapter of my book about how to find God in this crazy world and become a True and Courageous Seeker. I describe how my unshakable...
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Believing Like a Child
Are we born or raised with a sense of religion? What can faith look like if a child is allowed to shape it? With these questions I kick off the first chapter of my book about how to become a true seeker in this crazy world. I roughly describe my own childhood in this...
Lees meer"May I declare a poem to you?", he asked a young girl and me in the tram in Amsterdam. The young girl had her earphones plugged in and missed the question. So that left me in the sole privilege of listening to Hilmano's beautiful voice, poems and life story.
However different we looked, we were both born in South America, both had to move to the Netherlands while we were still kids and also both liked to write poems! What are the odds?
Just when I wanted to repay his kindness with one of my own poems - I asked him if he wanted a short or a long one - he had to leave the tram. "Look me up on Facebook and leave a note!", Hilmano said and we shook hands like true friends....
An elderly lady had caught the last part of our conversation and commented to me how wonderful it is when you meet a beautiful soul like him, whatever his dire circumstances. She also said that when you see someone with so much talent and friendliness, you tend to grant him more than others. The "Gunfactor" we call that in the Netherlands, and no, it has nothing to do with guns...
We heartily agreed that it's so important to tell people to follow their hearts. We recalled some instances in which we had said that to people, after which they dared to change something big in their lives. We agreed how wonderful it is if there's someone in your life who can say it to you when you need it most: "Just follow your heart, dear..."
Shortly after I also had to leave the tram and say goodbye to her like a true friend...
So pass it on, this Hilmano-vibe! The world needs more of this!
