The sun broke on the watery horizon, as if being pulled into the aurora of its first light. The waves from the crystalline turquoise water lapped softly against the shore of white sand, still cold on my feet. I stopped to watch the sunrise and felt my feet sink into the sand, the receding water tickled my ankles. I felt the warmth of the sun as it reached my face. I closed my eyes and felt my arms rise up outstretched, my palms upturned. I drank in the morning. When I opened my eyes, I saw the full glory of the morning upon the cove. I lifted my buried feet from the sand, turned away from the sea and headed for a tiny overgrown trail that led through the vegetation at the edge of the beach, the sand warm on my feet. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)
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I sensed the sweet smell of flowers as I approached and it overtook the salty air along the surf. I moved carefully, quietly, expectantly along the path, gently brushing branches to the side, and sidestepping the small, delicate flowers that were in bloom along the path. A few steps more, the sand in the shade cold again. I no longer heard the waves, but the sound of birds. The flowers were delightfully pungent. I turned to my right and saw a small clearing and the grasses whisked the dried sand from my feet as I entered. At the other end, I saw a man dressed in white with a straw hat and a neatly trimmed white beard seated in one of two chairs. I approached and he nodded and gestured gracefully for me to sit alongside him. We sat in near silence but for the gentle breeze ruffling the leaves in the trees and the cheerful sounds of birds tending to their morning rituals. The gentleman spoke in a low voice asking that I clear my mind and just let go. Together we breathed in the new morning and exhaled. I felt the change of energy coursing my body, my soul. He gently took my wrists in his hands and turned them palms up. He asked me a question, but instructed me to not answer it responsively. He asked that I truly meditate on this question and one by one dismiss all thoughts until only one answer remained. The question was “what is it that your heart truly wants?” I closed my eyes and didn’t even realize that he had let go of my wrists, but as I sat in that chair, I was otherwise fully aware. The first crash of thoughts came and went, just like the waves I felt moments before. I heard the fluttering wings of a hummingbird. I quieted my mind. I listened to my heart. Opening my eyes I felt a bit dizzy, lightheaded, and was clueless as to how much time had passed. The man was gone, and there was no trace of disappearing footprints. The sunlight streamed through the trees at the edges of the clearing. I nodded to his empty chair, returned to the path the way I entered, and followed it now back to the beach. I again stood upon the shoreline, the waves more vigorous than earlier, crashing upon the shore. I felt the incredible warmth of the sun, aware of its brightness. I whispered my answer to its radiance. What my heart truly desires is Peace. |