Tuesday, May 20, 2008


A MAN OF FAITH

I had the most incredible evening last night. Four of us, two men, two women, went to the top of Council Crest in Portland, and held our own Wesak ceremony. At the top of Council Crest is a circle marked with the directions of north, south, east and west. In the very center is a disk. When standing near that spot, your voice reverberates. Everything you say takes on new import and magnitude.

Mountains Hood, Adams and St. Helens are all in perfect view. All that is right about Portland is laid out before you, in verdant splendor. All the trees are in bloom and piles of pink dogwood blossoms lie everywhere. Huge, old azalea bushes in every shade of red, pink and purple boarder the grounds. It's spectacular.

When we arrived we set up a make-shift alter, right there on the disk. A special cloth, a flower, a small statue of Buddha (Wesak is his birthday celebration). Bikers, runners, walkers, lovers were in and out of our sacred space, talking, snapping into their toe clips, drinking from their water bottles. The minute we settled in and began our celebration with the singing bowl, the crowd vanished. We were left totally alone.

After calling in our guides, the wisdom of the four directions, ancestors and all that is holy and good, we sent our blessings out over the top of the crest, down into the valley, out into the universe.

Three of my favorite people on my left, right, and straight in front. My friend, her husband, and her friend that she's introduced me to, the Reiki Master. I sat in awe of this place on the globe, and my universe within it. Beauty in all directions, mountains, landscape, humanity.

My friend's husband was a Jesuit priest for years, then he met her, and his vocation got tweaked, but not changed. He is still a man of God, if not of the cloth. He is love, pure and simple. As I saw him get into full meditation pose and honor Buddha, the profound healing that Wesak is famous for, flooded my soul.

I love that there are people in the world that hold their own beliefs strongly, yet flexibly.

I love that old can meet new and they can get along.

I love that all good is good.

10 comments:

contemporary themes said...

"I love that all good is good."

Great line. Captures it well.

riversgrace said...

Thank you for bringing it down the hill and spreading the magic all around. I can see the whole thing and feel blessed by that.

Wanda said...

Thanks for sending blessings over our fair part of the world. I will stand in the rain and soak them up.

Anonymous said...

"I love that there are people in the world that hold their own beliefs strongly, yet flexibly."

This is a very beautiful thing, indeed and one of the things I love about my church, Bridgeport UCC, here in Portland.

Thanx for sharing this beauty!
-M

Amber said...

Aww, how beautiful. Really beautiful. As is Portland! *sigh*

:)

Deb Shucka said...

I love that you got to do this, and feel blessed by your rite even from this distance. Your writing makes me feel there with you - as always.

Anonymous said...

Sounds beautiful. Every single part of it. Glad you had the chance to be there and experience it.
XOXOX

kario said...

Love you.

Love this celebration.

You are good.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Thank you for reminding me that life is full of hope and joy. In the middle of life's woes it is a thought to cling on to.

Drama Mama said...

Thank you for sharing this.

"I love that all good is good" - best line ever.