THE SAINT AND THE FOUR NAKED WOMEN

A forecast of 90% rain kept me cuddled under the covers on my day off. Startled by sunshine when I emerged, I gleefully threw on my clothes and headed across the street to the beach. Oh, please, may we hardy coastal critters receive an hour of sun before the rains consume us! This could be the last sunny day of the season.

You’ve seen those signs posted at every entrance to the beach. “DON’T Turn Your Back. Sneaker Waves.” (They are usually next to the “Tsunami Warning” plaques.) During two years of beach walks, I’ve gloriously watched intense, rhythmic, pounding high-surf, but never witnessed the legendary rogue wave… until today. With my back to the ocean, sitting mesmerized on a log with a stranger named Tom, he calmly declared, “I knew when I saw that forming it was gonna be a big one…” as I turned to see a wall of water barreling right at us. No time for fear; it was quite exciting! Knocked off the log, drenched head to foot, but safe, sharing baptism from a “sneaker wave” seemed the perfect transformative ending to communion with an unconventional saint. We parted ways, heading home to remove wet clothes and enjoy hot showers. Yet, for the next several hours, an intangible wave continued to wash over me, ungluing, loosening density, and compelling lightness. I wondered; can one recognize grace striking, by a feeling of lightness in the heart?

The ultimate meaning of an auspicious occasion may sneak up on you someday, like a sneaker wave. Down the road, the clear realization that you received or offered a blessing on a particular sunny day at the beach may knock you over. For now, I simply tell Tom’s story, which is one of the most inspiring sagas I have ever heard.  About an ordinary man who wakes up in the morning, asking: “Lord, use me for the purpose that you wish; put me where you need to be.”

His story was almost unbelievable, yet I sensed the Presence of truth surrounding us. He is no ordinary hero. What does he do? He simply walks the beach every day. Besides compassionately sharing time with those in need of a friend, he amazingly rescued four naked women, on four separate occasions, as they prepared to drown themselves. See the necklace he wears? No rubies or diamonds, but the two hearts, the eagle, and the mushroom in the tiny bottle were gifts from the four women he befriended as they sat by the ocean, clothes neatly piled at their feet, ready to take their lives. In all cases, they had been rejected by their lovers, and self-worth had completely dissipated.

Tom recalled:  “I’m a man, and here’s a naked woman, and it was weird spending all this time trying to talk her into her clothes; much more effort than I ever spent trying to get a lady out of her clothes!  I told them to be themselves, value who they are, and good riddance to those who don’t appreciate them. Don’t base their happiness on others’ acceptance of them. I don’t remember what I said to them. The Good Lord was speaking through me.”

Tom did not believe in organized religion, but recognized himself as a creature and a helpmate of God. He had succeeded in saving these damsels in distress, listening to them and understanding them. They all continue to be his friends, and have turned their lives around.

I told Tom what an honor to meet him, that he was truly being used to assist others, and that a person never knows where even a simple smile to someone makes a big difference. His humbleness in giving all glory to God for all good that happens was astounding. He took no credit. I told him that simple people were often the best vessels, less ego in the way, look at Mother Teresa. I found his company pleasant, and we talked of other topics, and in the back of my mind I’m saying, this is absolutely incredible, and he acts as if it were nothing.

I described to him a scene from the book, “The Alchemist.”  An elderly, noble-looking time-traveler pops into the story and just “happens” to be sitting on a rock as Santiago passes by. They engage in conversation, which guides Santiago’s internal struggle on the hero’s path to authenticity and serving the greater good. The Melchizedek Order of priests is referenced throughout history as a mysterious spiritual alliance, much like the Masons or Rosicrucians, united with universal Company of Heaven types- angels and ascended masters (saints, sages and prophets.) Melchizedeks are vastly cosmic in influence, and completely aware of their role while embodied: to raise consciousness on a planet, wherever they are plopped down.  You might never know when a Melchizedek priest sits before you!

I told Tom maybe he was in that Order, but it didn’t seem to interest him. OR, maybe he was intentionally acting disinterested. Hmmmm….. I have thought what it would be like to serve Life that way, if such a way exists, and I see no reason why it wouldn’t. I just saw Johnny Depp in “Alice through the Looking Glass,” and the hero was a girl who travelled through time saving people and restoring love and trust. Rather adventurous! However, my encounter with Tom reminded me, above all else, the archetype for such a gallant role exists right here in this time and space, in a humble, simple man who walks the beach and saves people from themselves.

I can’t explain exactly why Tom and I met this morning; it was a sweet love-encounter with the Universe. His gems offered are for all of us, for I was a naked soul sitting on a log, trying to get God’s attention. I hear, “FEARLESSLY BE YOURSELF! Love that Self and its divine connection. And, never underestimate a good action or kind word you can offer.” Deep in my soul, even as I continue about my busy projects, I remember that the universe cares and watches. My guts tell me that our meeting was a revelation or blessing or connection. When you meet an evidently guided divine being, it is a sign you are also under the umbrella of divine guidance. This encourages me to keep on keeping on.