It all started in California while I was taking a course that I was so extraordinarily excited for. The course I was in turned out to be everything I didn’t think it could possibly be. I was blindsided by something that I thought was going to be life changing, and it turned out to be a prison for the soul. I felt trapped, and uncomfortable, and needed to get out of there. And so what started as excitement, turned into prison, and ended up being one of the greatest trips for this one reason.
I was so blessed when I had the opportunity to take a three hour bus ride along the California coastline on my way back to freedom! First of all, it was absolutely breathtaking, and second of all, I met three incredible souls. For about the first forty minutes, it was just Rick, the bus driver, and I. He was so helpful, and I greatly appreciated the fact that he didn’t ask me any questions, he just let me be in peace. I sucked up the incredible scenery the whole entire time! At one of our stops, Willie, a homeless man, jumped on the bus and began chatting with Rick. Rick treated him with the up-most respect as Willie talked about the most interesting and knowledgeable of things. I just sat there and listened. At the next stop, Larissa got on the bus with her little pooch, Spike. All of a sudden there were stories, and laughter, and we all connected! I joined into the conversation, and Willie played his flute, Spike howled along, and it was pure joy. Right then I realized, we were not different from each other, we were just simply all human beings seeing the best in one another.
We had another stop along the way, and so we all got out to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Just as we were about to leave I asked where Willie was, and Rick replied with, “He’ll be here, I’ll wait for him.” And there trucking across the road comes Willie, with his hands full of food and coffee. First thing he asks me is if I’d like a coffee, and then continues on to ask all six of us if we would like some of the food he just purchased!
To witness the act of giving, and conversing with these pure hearted people, was seriously a privilege like no other. Connecting with souls that bring you grounding, and meaning. Thank you so much Rick, Willie, Larissa, and Spike! Our paths were supposed to cross!
