The Mystery

Our souls know the way

~Miranda MacPherson

This photo was taken at Trinidad Bay, far up on the Northern California coast, and possibly the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. The play of light, surf, fog, land, trees, was exquisite. So raw and dynamic, we stood in awe of the beauty and power of Nature.

We came across this small bay totally by accident. We were looking for a different beach; I had asked in a local coffee shop about the one beach that should not be missed if our time was limited. We never found that beach, but stumbled on this one in the search... and could not imagine our luck OR a more beautiful place. So much so that we stopped for a longer time on the way back, when this shot was taken.

I wonder how much of life is like that... we think we are going one place, only to find a fork in the road along the way. And my sense is it's never an accident... just part of the mystery of life that I am so in love with... that great Unknown that we are all a part of... guiding our way - be it looking for the perfect beach on vacation, be it the people who appear in our lives, what interests and inspires us, our work, the spiritual path. We so tend to think that it's us, that we are in control, that we are making the decisions, that we are lighting our own way. That we know exactly where it is we are going and how exactly we are supposed to get there. I so love it when life challenges this assumption... when it gives us a hint, or even sometimes something so glaring we can't look the other way... when it reveals itself and all we can really do is bow down before it... be it this lovely little bay, or that completely unexpected thing that rocks our world... the veil lifts even for just a moment and we get a glimpse, and something deep within us shifts. 

Trust this mystery that has called you... that's actually called your name, that has touched you... 

~Gangaji