Sometimes I feel like my reading is prophetic. Here is why: lately, I have stumbled on books, not through recommendations, that speak clearly to my situation. I do not know how else to explain it.

The Fifth Mountain is one of those books—not in a dramatic way, but in a subtle one.
The Fifth Mountain is a novel by Paulo Coelho, the author of one of the best-selling novels, The Alchemist. Strangely, I have not read The Alchemist yet. The Archer was my first introduction to this author.

The story is a fictionalized retelling of the biblical account of the prophet Elijah, focusing on his struggle to walk the path God had destined for him, even after a series of powerful visions.

In Elijah’s conversation with the bird at the brook, we learn how he came into his prophetic calling. Although he had known about it all his life, he pushed it down and became a carpenter because his parents did not want to lose him. Then, an angel leads him to the widow’s house, where the rest of the story unfolds. Through a series of event, Elijah's curiosity and conversation with the crow and shepherd, he comes with terms with his destiny. He understood the patterns of God in the details. Only by struggling with the Most High does he find a way to rebuild his life and fulfill his mission.

As a Christian and a creative, I found this novel fascinating, especially as someone who knows the story of Elijah.

It is an allegory that, in my context, echoes what has been my meditation: the sovereignty of God, his providence, and human participation. Destiny also requires human alignment. I would not give it 5 stars, but it is a good piece of literature.

Favorite quotes from the book

“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all their might that which they desire.”

“Tragedies do happen. We can discover the reason, blame others, imagine how different our lives would be had they not occurred. But none of that is important: They did occur, and so be it. From there onward, we must put aside the fear that they awoke in us and begin to rebuild.”

“The Lord often has his prophets climb mountains to converse with Him. I always wondered why He did that, and now I know the answer: When we are on high, we can see everything as small.”

“Not always does His plan agree with what we are or what we feel, but be assured, He has a reason for all of this!”

“Each one has a name from birth, but must learn to baptize their life with the word that has chosen to give meaning to that life.”

Which one of the quotes resonates with you?

Have you read any of Paulo Coelho’s books?
Which one should I read next?