Today's Reading: 2 Kings 10-12; John 1:29-51
I missed my Dad’s church yesterday and trained Capoeira this morning so I felt like I needed to do something to fill up my spirit. I decided to go to the
It is a special place.
The guy who started it, Paramahansa Yogananda, created it as a place where anyone of any faith could go to share and meditate. A good friend of mine told me about the place years ago and ever since then I have gone there when I needed some quiet time alone.
As I walked along the path that circles lake in the middle of the grounds I admired all of the beautiful trees, bushes, shrubs and flowers that pepper the landscape. The colors from the plants pop out at you. From the reds of the wild berries to the beautiful greens of the ferns and bamboo it is easy to get lost in wonderment as you walk the grounds.
I passed by a place where I saw the most beautiful blue flowers growing in the gaps of a rock wall and felt something special there.
But I continued on.
When I got to my usual spot there was someone already there. Frustrating, but I guess that’s cool. It’s not like I own the place.
Plus, there was something about that area with those blue flowers that kept running in my head. So, I went back and sat there, took out my Bible and meditated a bit.
Several people walked by my spot along the path. Some of them were buried in their cell phones, or talking loudly with other passersby. But others were reverently walking the grounds.
It was these folks that took the time to say or nod hello. I responded in kind.
When I was in my meditative space I could feel someone approaching on the right. I looked over and saw that there were two women approaching, middle aged and peaceful. The woman on the left was walking with a considerable limp. For some reason I could see the pain in her hips.
She stopped at some bushes just before me and I felt the urge to pray for her asking that God would give her some healing for her hip and whatever else might be wrong. Then I returned to my meditation.
Out of the corner of my eye I watched as she picked a flower from the bush in front of her and continued walking toward me.
I turned to look at her but she was already looking at me.
We smiled.
Then she walked directly to me and without a word she handed me the flower. Her smile said “thank you”.
I smiled back “You’re welcome.”
She continued along the path, her steps a bit lighter, and her gait a bit stronger. At least that’s how it seemed to me.
But what I am certain of is that I was in that place at that time for a reason. There are no coincidences, only opportunities to walk through doors.
But in the end, it is each one of us who must decide whether or not we will take the first steps.
