Peace

If you want to change the world you start by changing yourself---

I found myself this week on my blue Sevylor inflatable kayak floating alongside a friend on his yellow kayak on Castle Lake. The temperature in Redding was about 105 degrees so that day the temerature at Castle Lake was in the 80s. The water was warm enough to swim in so I did that too. My friend fell asleep in his kayak in the shade of the cliffs which is why they call this Castle Lake. The sun was bright and I kept my face away from the sun since it was the afternoon looking up at the trees on the eastern side of the lake as I floated near one of the springs coming into the backside of the lake away from the campers and most swimmers. As I floated there I saw what looked to be an Eagle (a Bald Eagle). I told my friend about it because we each had done vision quests in 1983. So, an Eagle is a good sign for people who have traveled the medicine path like we have.

I asked my friend if he saw the Eagle and he said, "Are you sure it isn't a turkey vulture?" I said, "It doesn't have feather fingers at the tips of it's wings so it's an eagle. It slowly headed off towards Castle Crags.

Then I saw in the same area of the sky a Red Tailed Hawk. One of our teachers now passed away was called Red Hawk. I said to my friend, "Look. There's Red Hawk coming back to visit us!"

Then next, 8 wood ducks, a momma and her 7 young ducks came over the top of the water towards us eating bugs off the top of the lake and whatever they could find to eat.

It was a very good day in every way.

I experienced PEACE and realized I was at peace completely with all aspects of my life more than at any other point in my life. I felt very grateful to have survived to this point in life without angst.

I wasn't frustrated anymore like I used to be when I was young trying to right all the wrongs of this world. If that day had been my last I would have been okay with that completely.

Peace