"...Now is the closest approximation of eternity that this world offers.  

It is in the reality of "now," without past or future,

that the beginning of the appreciation of eternity lies.

For only "now" is here, and only "now" presents the opportunities

 for the holy encounters in which salvation can be found."

A Course in Miracles.

     For the last 15 months, the Universe has been encouraging  me to share how wonderful and fulfilling my life has become, since I gave up my need to be in control of anything, and have pledged to follow the guidance of Spirit as fully as I possibly can, by bringing other writers into my life.  I have met two published authors and many other individuals who write just for the clarity that  it brings them to express themselves in print.   While I have no dreams of publishing my work, I realize that I do have a wealth of experience to share that may inspire others to find their own paths to fearless happiness or, at least, to pursue their dreams in spite of their fears and at the same time, by writing of my experience, I find that I learned so much more than I thought while I was actually in the midst of the event.

     What happened today is so amazing that I know that now is the time, if I  am ever going to start sharing,  and this is the event to begin with. ...

     I came to Texas from the San Francisco Bay area  to spend Thanksgiving with my son Xavier, his wife Amy and my one year old grandson, Desmond.  My three children who live in Southern California also came and we had a wonderful Turkey Day together.

Today started out cloudy, a bit cold,  and very windy but it was  perfect for hiking at Pedernales Falls State Park  about   90  miles from San Antonio, TX.  Before we left my son's home, I decided that I did not need to take my purse with me, so I took out my driver's license and a credit card and slipped them into my back pocket, making sure that I put my phone in the other pocket, since I have pulled the phone out and dropped cards before...each time telling myself that it is not a good idea to do this and "I won't do it again".

By the time we got to the park, around 11, the clouds had disappeared and the sky was the beautiful color of azure blue that  you only see when you get away from the city. The wind had picked  up even more but it was invigorating  and  it was still cool enough that we kept on our jackets and hats   as we headed through the trees.

My hypnosis training has programmed me to run through all of my senses to get the full enjoyment of every event so I took deep breaths to take in the natural fragrance of the trees and  and  opened my mouth to taste the air. I listened for the expected roar of the falls as we walked on, and I will admit that when we walked out of the trees to the overlook above the falls, I was a little disappointed.  After several years of drought, there was very little water actually falling but, after releasing that bit of negative energy, I saw an amazing river bed made of enormous granite rocks, showing all the effects of millions of years of being at the mercy of the water.  In some places the  rocks were as smooth as my grandson's little fanny and in other places they had the striations of other rocks that had been drug for hundreds of miles as they were ground into the smaller stones and sand that had been deposited further on in the river bed.

I was absorbed with the thrill of seeing the history of this area laid out in front of me  as I climbed down the embankment and explored to massive rocks and deep pools that would have been unknown to me if the river had been flowing as I had imagined it.
    I had my camera and was happily clicking away until the batteries died and I realized that, oops, I had the extra batteries in my purse.  Not to fear, in this digital age, I had my back-up camera on my phone, so out it came and I continued clicking away putting it  back in my pocket and taking it out again many times.   The wind never let up as we explored for about an hour then decided to hike to some other pools that Xavier had heard about.  With my phone safely back in my pocket we headed off for more adventure.

   As I walked, completely immersed in hiking mindfully; looking, listening, hearing, smelling, feeling,  I was in bliss.  The trail lead us back up away from the river for a while and then turned back down bring us out where the river was flat and flowing slowly.  I took out my phone to take a picture when my credit card dropped on the ground...oh no,  I had that sinking feeling that you get when you know that you have lost something important.  I checked my pocket for my driver's license but I already knew that I wasn't going to find it there.  I have told myself a million times that I should not put my cards in my pocket and now I had actually lost my driver's license in Texas and I am supposed to fly back to California in two days..."What if they won't let me on the plane without a ID?"

   " Okay... I do not panic.. I am not one that panics... My best option is to find my driver's license.  No problem, I am going to find my driver's license;  I have the secret weapon that has never failed me, Faith."

    I told the kids that I was going to back track and I would meet up with them later.  As I traveled back towards the falls my mind went through what I consider an organized chaos.  The conversation of my ego, telling me that it was so windy that my license was either at the bottom of a pool, or in a crevice, nowhere near where it fell out, and my higher Self reminding me that miracles are the natural way of things and when they don't happen something is not in alignment.  I chose to listen to my higher Self and expected the miracle.    

    There was a large group of people back at the spot where I first took out my  phone and I hopefully inquired if anyone had found a driver's license.  In their voices I could hear the sense of hopelessness as they said "no" and wished me well.  Smiling, I informed them with confidence, that I had Faith and I would find it.  Back tracing my earlier path, my mind was still having the "what if I don't find it?"  conversation, making alternative plans, while my higher Self was reminding me that God always, and I do mean ALWAYS, takes care of me, and "IF" I got stuck in Texas for a few extra days, there would be a reason...BUT, I knew that it was not going to happen. Period.  I was going to find my driver's license..."Why didn't I just loose the credit card?  It would be such an easy thing to replace?"  Yes, very organized chaos.  Further on I talked to other tourists and got the same sympathetic responses, giving them the same optimism that I had given the first group,"I have Faith, I will find it,"  while pleading mentally "Please, Spirit, show me where to go!"

  At the  edge of the rocks I looked down into a very deep, clear pool, and I told myself that if I saw my license there, at the bottom, I was going to have to go in after it, no matter how cold the water was, since I had asked Spirit to guide me to  it and  I was relieved not to see it there.  Here I must admit that for two seconds I started to listen to my doubting self and thought that I might not find it, but the Self in me that refused to give in said, VERY forcefully,  "NO!!  I WILL NOT give up Faith until I actually drive away from here, without my driver's license!"  I am not  exaggerating when I say that literally five seconds later, I stepped up to the top of a rock and looked down into a crevice, and there it was.   YEAH!  Excitedly, I waved my flag at Xavier and my daughter  Elizabeth, who, by then, had caught up to me and were also looking.

    I am filled with an amazing sense of Gratitude.  Amazing, not because it happened that way, but amazing because those kinds of events are every day happenings in my life ever since I gave up my need for control and found that Faith. I am not saying that everything, always goes the way that I think that I want it to, but everything always unfolds in a way that is in my highest and best interest.  I meet the people, who  I need to meet.  I read the books that I need to read.  I ask for guidance and I get it.  Anyone can do the same.

   I believe that the only response that God would like to see from me is that I pass on the message of fearlessness and optimism and unwavering Faith.  I still have my moments of wavering and organized chaos but as I  practice more and tell others about my experiences, my strength increases and that doubting voice looses power.

    Thank-you God (in all of the thousands of names that describe you)  for all of the Blessings in my life.  Thank-you for guiding me to be of service wherever it is needed.  Bring on the next step, I accept it gratefully.

Namaste
PEACE, LOVE, REVERENCE, GRATITUDE
EarthSongWoman