commit and flow

Early in 2011 I had decided to lead a trip to Tibet's holy Mt Kailash.  I had been hesitant for years but finally came to a place of commitment.   Here is what followed after a 100 percent commitment.    A distinctive voice rose above the mayhem of the money changer.  Number 30, Number 31, large bills and stacks of Indonesian Ruphiah cross hands above a high counter.  A red digital sign flashes  with the prices of foreign currency, the Aussie dollar = 9580 ruphia, the US dollar = 9150 rhupia.  Customers enter with hopes of the value of their money rising, a nervous Spaniard stokes his Euros in the corner, the digital screen ruling his attention.  Their are 5 Indonesians behind the desk taking in money, counting carefully, bright neon, a overhead fan, sweat from the Bali heat.  A distinctive voice draws my attention.  I see the profile of a gentleman standing at the counter and instantly recognized that he was Tibetan.  His voice, his stance, the bag he carried, the light around him.  I tap him on the arm and say "your Tibetan".  He looks at me first with an inquisitive stare then beaming smile.  He replies "you are Tibetan also" a huge beaming smile lights his face and warms my heart.  I reply "Yes" in a past life and we laugh like we had known each other for years.  My wife Dee is with me we are both surprised to find a Tibetan in the middle of Bali, at a money changer.  The odds of finding him here become even greater as he relays his story, and we soon realize this is not just a chance happening but message.  Crossing paths with this gentle Tibetan man in the middle of Bali at a random money changer, there are 1000s in Bali, at a certain time of day was surprising.  Running into this Tibetan who's  family owned all of the land that surrounds Mt Kailash was synchronistic.  As he shared his story he told of how, prior to the Chinese invasion he and his family were the stewards and owners of all the land around Mt Kailash and more.  His family was responsible for the monasterys in the area and taking care of 7000 monks.  Our mouths dropped. We told him of our upcoming trip to kailash.  "Well I will connect you with family in the area".  As we discussed and shared, the bustle of the money changing office faded. A deep connection ensued.  "Give me your hands".  Our hands went out and he took them, "this is a rare blessing and can be used only on special occassion".  He began a blessing right in the middle of the money changing office.  I love the sound of Tibetan mantras, I can feel them in my blood.  Receiving a blessing from a Tibetan of the Kailash area in the middle of a money changing office was profound. The money changing office faded and became a cocoon of light. Love poured through our hands and a tear pooled in the corner of my eye.  It was as if we were not even in the office, money kept changing hands, dollar signs kept flashing, no one seemed to know we were there and I felt as if we were not there.  Was this Tibetan and angel?   At the end of the prayer we placed our foreheads together, a sign of friendship in the here and now, and connection in path of the future.   We exchanged emails, he left out the door.  Dee and I smiled at each other, the experience left us breathless and light on our feet.  I wanted to see him as he walked away so stepped out the glass doors which he had just exited 20 seconds ago.  He was gone.  The message?  I think Johann Goethe summed it up in the following quote:  "Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back.  Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too."  I end with this:  Commit to your path  Peace.  Matt