Island Guardian

Just in front of our log camp, an ancient glacial rock island encloses our lagoon. On those days with gale force winds, we feel protected and privileged as we watch the huge waves thunder into this little island and run in rivulets and waterfalls over the other side, tamed by their encounter. 'Three Sister Waves' inevitably appear on these ferocious days.

Today, the mergansers have been cruising in the shallows, diving for minnows in tandem cooperation. A few days ago, I witnessed the same with loons. A pair moving south called to a trio further out on the glistening water. All five came into the waters just beyond our island guardian and fished in formation, just as the mergansers did today.

Innately, the waterfowl know this behavior. They know they are not the sweetwater sea herself; they are waves in her presence. To succeed, they must collaborate to capture their prey.

They teach us to see that we too, like them, are not the water, but the wave. We are part of the universal sea; our presence ripples through the waters of life, little wavelets in the boundless waters of creation and magnificent beauty. Once we recognize our place in the world, fear dissolves, for what have we to fear? We are planetary inhabitants, spiritual beings in a physical vessel, who can, with our meditation and intent, collaborate to bring Light into the world.

As I watch the water, I think of this, and I feel consoled in the knowledge that like the loon and merganser, I have a special place in this world, chosen before this lifetime. And I have a purpose in this world, as do we all, as we connect with people throughout the world. The global village sparkles with the light of our Journey from here to otherwhere. May our paths connect, may we choose to travel together and bring Joy into the world.