Oh My Soul*

Have you ever had that feeling of pure ecstasy, an unbelievable happiness running through your veins and every cell in your body, where everything is right with your world? It is a rare existential, performative feeling of well being. Of being completely in tune with your existence and with your Lord. I have experienced that feeling, but only a few times in my life. Very personal indeed but there nonetheless.

In my own feeble mind, this son captures that feeling.

While on the Camino Frances, Spain. Early morning light. Oh what a feeling…

…of being on top of the world.

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And while sailing. One with the sea, the wind and the sky.

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Excerpt from Red Jewel (above link). It will give you a sense of what I mean:

“The moon? Oh, the moon. By now it was a large bright orb that
appeared on our eastern horizon just after sunset, rising. How bright it
was and a welcome sight. It will be our companion until the early hours
tomorrow. You could read a book by it and its pale light gave the color of
the sea around us a silk-like, midnight blue colored texture. And under
the moonlight the boat’s phosphorescence came to life, glimmering and
sparkling bits of plankton that transformed itself magically into sheets
of translucent but shimmering diamonds or star-dust running down the
hull from the bow to the stern. Like a sorcerer’s mix this phosphorescence
transformed the boat’s bow wave into a magical mix that was exquisite
and breathtaking to look at. It was God’s manifestation of His physical
presence in this world. A reminder. Our stern wake took on a paranormal
ghostly appearance as it snaked its way astern then dissipated into the
nothingness and magnitude of the dark blue seas behind us. It was as if
God was telling us to take note, as his presence is revealed to us by the
mysterious and miraculous sea world around us.

With the moonlight upon us the night was no longer an ominous
threat. Then, as the night progressed, and the moon rose higher and
higher, it carried a golden ring that made its radiance brighter in intensity.
It was so bright and clear that I thought I could make out the American
Flag that was planted on the moon by astronauts Neil Armstrong and
Buzz Aldrin back in 1969. Or is that the man in the moon I am seeing:
an expression that was clearly defined as he or her smiled down upon us.
And at sunrise the sky revealed a rising sun in the east and a translucent,
pale looking moon to the west. It was magical. It was transcendental as
it was very spiritual. Looking out into the infinity of the universe and of
its perfection and complexity I know with certainty that there is a God.
It was during these times, in the middle of the night, that I found
myself miles and miles ahead of myself or mentally distant from my
current reality. This is what occurs to you at sea in the middle of the
night with only your thoughts for company. I stare at the moon and
study every nuance of its surface consciously while unconsciously my
mind drifts away into the past where I am able to remember minute and
insignificant details of my life with renewed clarity and understanding
and peace. No longer am I afraid of what or how life may present itself
to me but looked forward to all that life has to offer. For now, in this
beautiful setting of God’s given and most powerful elements of sea, wind
and sky; and the stars and planets that form all of the constellations, I
can recognize a true powerful and living God and thank him with all
of my heart for all of his blessings that he has bestowed upon me. I look
to my future with assuredness, anticipation and confidence. It is in this
moment of time and space, and clairvoyance, on this boat in the middle
of the central Pacific Ocean, that I am filled with elation and happiness.
It is an unbelievable feeling of wellness and joy and one that I have rarely
experienced in my lifetime.

And without a moon a gazillion pricks of light appeared. You sit
there in your element as if you were on a plain of fluid bobbing around
and trapped inside of an inverted bowl. Above you were millions and
millions of stars forming a canopy of infinity that is only limited by
the relatively minuscule and human visual boundaries from the eastern
horizon to the west, and from the northern limitations to the south.
Then or now.

It was an eerie sight, and feeling, attempting to visualize infinity: The
Alpha and the Omega, the mystery of life itself. You couldn’t even
attempt to measure it or define it. And from within the bowl, the stars
appeared like some celestial audience that was watching our every move
and trek across their world and their universe.”

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It is a funny thing to me, somewhat ironic I think, that we prepare ourselves for many things: we buy car insurance to protect us and our investment from harm or destruction or personal injury and liability. We purchase house insurance to protect our security, our wellbeing, and we purchase life insurance to protect our love ones and survivors if anything should happen to us. Yet we do little to prepare ourselves for that spiritual and eternal life after we are gone. We do little to protect our souls and or to seek salvation. Why is that? I do not know. I am a believer so I have no fear, or anxiety whatsoever. Yet non believers are willing to risk it all. It is like having no spiritual life insurance. I do not understand that.  Believe and accept Jesus Christ as you savior and you will feel all of your anxiety and fear melt away. You will experience the joy of knowing there is a Father who cares for you and is in control of everything. As our young people would say: No Worries!

Skakeyjay is out of sight, out of my mind and out of here.

Have a nice day.

On another note:

Quote of the week:

“Well done Brian Wilson! You were such an inspiration for all of your fellow schizophrenics out there. Your music will live on forever. Peace with you! Rest in Peace.”