The Celestine Prophecy

I was liberated when college finished. At last, the dumbbell had been lifted from my shoulders, and my freedom had been unlocked!

It was time that I cherished most dearly, because time is our most valuable asset. At college, I was trading my time for assignments and reports that I had to feign my interest in. It wasn't the best exchange. But now, with no daily authority governing my actions, I was free to play the hand of Joshua St Clair.

Yet, there was one major obstacle in my way.

As abound as my excitement and enthusiasm was to launch into the life of Art that I had envisioned, I was pegged to the line by the fact that I needed money to survive. Even though I had ideas rich as truffles, and a vision as vivid as candy, my skills and talents needed much cultivation until they could sustain me on the financial frontier. The paradise I had composed in my imagination was so close, and I was dying to orchestrate it. Yet, the gaze of reality was stern - I needed to postpone my freedom, and get a job.

That didn't mean I couldn't enjoy a bite sized freedom first. Dunedin was echoing my name again, so I answered the call, leaping over the mountains in my emerald wagon. Road trips and quaint getaways are brilliant for stirring freshness and clarity into the mind. ‘A job wouldn’t be so bad,' I thought as my car traversed the golden hills of Central Otago. After musing on the matter, I realized that if I was resourceful and creative, I could find the perfect job to spend my Spring and my Summer – somewhere beautiful, a place that could inspire my artistic endeavours. The perfect job was out there – I just had to find it. When I arrived in Dunedin however, I put all job related admin to the side, and swaggered into my mini holiday with pep.

The ocean was glistening in my face as I puttered over the farm hill; Dunedin lifting its head to greet me, purring in the valleys. I sensed a fondness, a feeling of nostalgia. It came trickling into my being like tiny marbles. My last trip to Dunedin was wild. I wondered what the riddle-town had in its pocket for me this time.

I was hustled in by the antics of my friend Tommy and his gang of bandits, knuckling down in the Rothmans headquarters, spilling bagel crumbs and being loud. They were thrilled that I had arrived in a vehicle, eagerly hopping in when the sun was high the following day, zooming around town following a crude list of second hand stores. I was ushered to the passenger’s seat, but I didn't mind. My only intention for this trip was to slacken myself and let Dunedin do the talking.

We parked in town, and I sat waiting in the car as Tommy nipped over the road to exchange some coins for a vegan pie. Muffled by fabric of my trousers, my phone was causing a palaver, rattling like a ride cymbal. I grabbed it out of my pocket - 'Unknown caller ID' was trying to get through. I answered.

"Hello, Joshua speaking."

"Hey Josh, my name is Jimmy. I've got your CV here, and it says that you just completed the QRC course in Hospitality Management, correct?" I was pleasantly puzzled.

"Yes that is correct, I finished QRC just last week actually," I replied.

"Cool, that's great. We have a girl from QRC working with us on her internship, and she has been wonderful so far. Her name is Haylee, do you know her?"

"I haven't met a Haylee before," I replied, still wondering who Jimmy was and how he managed to get hold of my CV.

"That's all good. Well, we are looking for staff for the restaurant, and we know that you QRC students are perfect for the job. Are you free for a trial on Monday?"

"Yes! I am currently in Dunedin, but I can make it back in time for a trial."

"Ah that's great! See you on Monday!"

"Oh wait!" I gasped. "What restaurant is this?"

"Oh sorry, did I not say? It is Jack's Point Golf Clubhouse."

"Wonderful. Thank you so much for this opportunity, I can't wait to see you on Monday!"

The instant I hung up, I flicked my thumb, opened the web browser and googled Jack's Point Clubhouse. Postcard paradise! It was the most beautiful restaurant I had ever seen…

Tommy came back munching his steaming pie, and I just sat there, incredulous. Without even trying, the perfect job just floated into my life like a peacock feather, landing in my open hands. Who were these angels watching over me? 

Rattling the cars engine, we drove down the road a few blocks to a second hand haven called Restore. I waltzed on in to the greeting of a little bell, joy whirling around in my body. The store was filled to the brim with antiques and collectibles, and even though I wasn't searching for anything particular, I ventured into the maze of clutter with sparkling eyes.

I found myself scanning the bookshelf in the corner, head tilted to the side like a curious dog. One title lunged forth: 'The Celestine Prophecy'. Thrill zapped me, and I reached for the book, it's blue cover page as mysterious as the ocean. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Josiah, my spiritual brother from Hamilton Island told me about this book! (Read: Twentieth Birthday Tale, and Bizarre). I queried Josiah about the strange coincidences and moments of serendipity that were happening in my life during the entire Hamilton Island experience; occurrences that made me feel connected to a higher force, a deeper intelligence. He said that if I wanted to learn more, I must read a book called 'The Celestine Prophecy'. And now here it was, in my hands, without even searching for it! I purchased it for one dollar.

I burst through the doors of Restore and out into the bright world, feeling spiritually super-charged. Gazing up at the grand blue sky, I wondered if there really was a God out there. How was it so that I miraculously manifested my dream job, and found 'The Celestine Prophecy' within 5 minutes of each other? It was the epitome of serendipity!

I sat in the car, carefully turning the first few pages. To my absolute disbelief, all of my questions about coincidences were answered in the first chapter.

The Celestine Prophecy ignited my curiosity for the spiritual side of life once more, heralding a big shift in my consciousness. The entire day made impeccable sense to me, and the fact that I found The Celestine Prophecy only moments after being offered my dream job was confirmation from the universe that there is indeed something much deeper at play here, and that this Jack's Point job was part of my destiny.

I felt like a child on Christmas day, flicking through a puzzle book; the gift of a creative father. Life, what a mystery! I was excited to see what awaited me at Jack's Point. Some kind of treasure, perhaps?