 |
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Trust Your Vibes
By Dr. Sonia Choquette, PhD.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer & Author
Love Letters
by Erika Morrell,
Soul Mate Medium™
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
Donna Cunningham, MSW, Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
MoonWatching with Dana Gerhardt and Friends
Starlight Musings
by Nancy Sommers,
Mundane Astrologer
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
Avant-Gardening:
Insights
by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Encounters on the
Shaman's Path with
Dr. Hank Wesselman, PhD.
Anthropologist, Zoologist, Author, Shamanic Healer & Teacher
The Divine Human
by Ornesha De Paoli
Awakenings
by Karen Johnson
Worshipping by Wondering with
Sankara Saranam, MA Founder of the Pranayama Institute
Wisdom Walks in Circles
by Margaret Lewis
Author & Shamanic Practitioner:
Water For The Dry Sponge: Chronicles and Essays
by Shaun Brown,
Be Well Publications
“I of my own knowledge…”
by Frank DeMarco,
Author & Psychic
Crystals, Minerals
& Gemstones
Light and Love with Crystals, Minerals & Gemstones
by Raven,
Raven Crystals
Furry & Feathered Family Members:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Animal Insights
by Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator,
talk-to-animals.com
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Transformational Healing through the Violet Flame!
by Eva Kettles
Herbs for Health
with Kami McBride
Cure Your Cravings
...For Life
Rena Greenberg,
Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming & Hypnotherapist
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Kabbalah:
Kabbalah Revealed:
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, Kabbalalist
Numberscope Forecast
by Vincent J. Barra
Oracle & Divination Systems:
Be Your Own Oracle
by James Wanless, Ph.D. Creator of the Voyager Tarot Deck
Resources:
Archives
Blessings & Messages
The Book Nook
The Directory
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
S.O.L.A.R.®:
S.O.L.A.R ®
Beyond Materiality. Beyond Spirituality. Toward the Complete Human Being...
by Martin Lass, Emissary
Tarot:
Moment to Moment
by Gigi Miner
Author, Tarot Consultant, & Teacher
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Educator
Tidbits:
Almanac of the Ancients
by TripleMoonGoddess
News Briefs
Op-Ed
Pearls of Wisdom
by Astro Aeon
& Astro Care
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Life's Other
Novel Moments
Publisher's Corner
General Information:
Advertising Information & Opportunities:
The Directory Advertising Rates
Premium Pages:
Groups 1, 2 & Display
Advertising Rates
The BookNook
Advertising Rates
About
The Meta Arts Magazine
Editorial Submission
Information:
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating Bridges: Spirituality & Philosophy:
From the Heart:
In his own Quiet Way
|
|
|
by Alan Cohen |
|
|
For nearly twenty years I have been patronizing a small video store on a country road near my home. Over the years I got to know the proprietor, an amiable otherwise-retired chap named Don. Don and I regularly schmoozed over the counter about movies, our families, our dogs, and philosophies of life. Don’s beloved pooch had gone over the rainbow bridge a few years earlier, and when I introduced him to my dog Munchie, Don lit up like a five-year-old boy at Christmas. He abruptly shifted from checkouts, snuggled Munchie on the counter, and magically produced dried chicken strip treats from behind his back. It didn’t take Munchie long to figure Don’s M.O., and he would start jumping in the car when we turned onto the video store’s street. Once in the door, Munchie would make a wild dash behind the counter, where Don would love him up and produce the coveted poultry reward. (Later I learned that dogs in the hood regularly found their way to the store without their owners.)
Nearly everyone who worked in the store was Don’s family. Even though they all lived far away, they would take turns coming to work for several-month stints. Over time I met Don’s wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. The business was a family affair.
If you liked a particular actor, you were in luck. All the Brad Pitt films were on one shelf, Kevin Costner another, Julia Roberts another, and so on. No, Toto, I don’t think we’re at Blockbuster anymore.
Once, when I was preparing to present a weekend seminar on inspirational cinema, I took out about 20 films to show short clips to the participants. When I explained the project to Don at checkout, he refused to take my money. “It’s for educational purposes,” he noted. “They’re on the house.” He also never charged me for late returns.
Across from the counter on the side of a display rack was a tall, thin poster advertising an old Disney animated flick. On it the heights of customers’ kids were recorded with horizontal lines accompanied by their names. I found it touching to watch Jonah’s mark rising from year to year. Even though I never met the kid, it felt gratifying to know that somewhere out there a boy was becoming a young man.
A few months ago Don’s son announced that the family was selling the store. Don, now at age 86, otherwise in remarkably good health, had had a few knee surgeries and it was getting harder for him to navigate the terrain of the shop. Don would be moving far away to be with his family, and closing the chapter of his life that interfaced him with the movies, kids, and dogs he loved, as well as the buttered popcorn smell that permeated from the in-store microwave, and the array of candy and red licorice at the checkout.
Although saddened to hear of the end of an era, I was happy that Don’s family loved him enough to take him home and give him the support he needed. A large sign invited all the customers, “Come say aloha to Don next Friday night, 6 - 8 pm.” Dee and I were disappointed that we would be away that night, but we made a note to visit Don at his home upon our return.
That meeting was eventful for me. Don answered the door spryly in his wheelchair and invited us to sit at a couch surrounded by cardboard moving boxes. As I sat in his home, I realized that I had a real relationship with this man. Our friendship crept up on me gradually, until Don had a place in my heart equal to other people I loved. Now I was going to miss him.
Don proudly pulled out the photo album that recorded his going away party. There were lots of people I knew: parents, kids, and dogs posing with their elder friend amid colorful balloons. Everyone contributed to a colorful scrapbook with notes of thanks, poems, and little kids’ crayon drawings of Don and the store. In his own quiet way Don had touched many lives. It wasn’t just the dogs who received treats when they entered. Everybody got a good feeling.
The time came for us to leave, and though we tried to hold back, we all shed a tear. Don was moving far, far away, and we would most likely not see each other again. Goodbyes don’t come easily to me, especially maybe-not-again-in-this-life-goodbyes. Then Don told us in a chipper tone, “Well, I guess I’ll see you in heaven.”
His candor Å\ and vision Å\ struck me. I sat silent for a moment and nodded. “Yes, I will look forward to seeing you again in heaven,” I replied. With that, Dee and I rose and exited.
I remained choked up for the entire ride home. I realized I had been privileged to know a very holy man. Not holy in the sense that he wore robes, talked to or about God, and did miracles. Holy in that that he has lived with extraordinary kindness, presence, and generosity. On second thought, I guess he did do miracles. In a world where fear, protectionism, and separateness seem to rule, Don reversed those conditions in his little shop on a country road. Maybe I don’t need to wait till we get to heaven to see Don again, because he made the earth a little more like heaven. In his own quiet way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan Cohen,
Author
|
 |
Alan Cohen is the author of the best-selling "The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore," the award-winning "A Deep Breath of Life," the acclaimed "Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It" and his new prosperity guide Relax into Wealth.
Join Alan next March 9-15 in Maui for a life-changing Mastery Training.
For information on this program or others, or to receive Alan’s free daily inspirational quote and monthly newsletter, visit www.alancohen.com,
email: info@alancohen.com, or phone 1•800•568•3079
For information on this seminar and a free catalog of Alan's books, tapes, and seminars:
Phone:
1•800•568•3079
or visit: www.alancohen.com
email: admin@alancohen.com
or write:
P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.
|
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory!
|
|
|
|
|
