Life Amazing

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the most amazing experiences unfold when you simply show up and follow your heart? Last week at the Gulf Coast was one mind-bending, life-changing moment after another. Opportunities showered upon me and I’m left with a slightly silly grin on my face and a heart full of gratitude.

For those of you following my work at the Gulf Coast, you know that I have a deep and abiding love of the Ocean. The Gulf is part of our global ocean and the oil spill was the event that called me to action last year. It pulled me from my caring-from-a-distance mode to being on the front lines, for over a year now, of one of the worst environmental disasters of our lifetime. Because of my saltwater love and my abiding belief that all life is sacred, I have written two books about nature. One, Place of Spirit, with a chapter on the oil spill and the other, The Gulf Oil Spill Story, an illustrated children’s book about the spill. Throughout the past year, the coastal call has been growing and I have wondered where it would take me and if it would take me away from my mountain home.

Like the osprey, I needed to get a higher perspective, so before I went to the Gulf Coast I set the intention to keep my mind and heart open, wondering if I was being called to return home to continue my work. Over 15 years ago I stood at the shoreline at the Gulf and stated my desire to help Her. I heard a clear, “Not yet but you will know when to return.” When the Gulf Oil Spill occurred in April 2010, I knew that was my call to return to help the Gulf waters and wildlife and people. I thought it was just to visit often. And yet, the saltwater kept calling as I returned to the mountain.

It’s not easy to ignore the call of service, even when my cathedral of trees shelters me and enfolds me in its embrace. If I could dream up a perfect home that completely suits my personality and desire for beauty, it would be this cedar wonder of glass and space. But I’ve dedicated my life to helping the Earth and Her creatures (including humans). I know from experience that to heed the inner calling is to be content and in the flow. And when the call comes–to move, to work, to help–the only thing that makes sense is to listen and leap. (My friend Brandon is leaping, too).

Since childhood I had a strong pull to the mountains. And when I finally moved here five years ago, I met people who were instrumental in helping me move forward with my life’s work. This was a place that called to my soul. I needed this five years to hone my skills, design and produce three books of my own and another I co-authored with Thomas Rain Crowe, another soul called to help the Earth Mother. The mountain has nurtured my creative spirit and led me to a deeper connection with nature. It’s not easy to think about saying goodbye to this home of beauty and love that has enfolded me so I could unfold and grow and expand into my potential.

Before I journeyed back to the Gulf Coast I simply held my heart and mind open and asked my Trusted Source to show me what I needed to see (the same prayer I say every time I walk out on a beach to document the oil spill and recovery). I went down with one event scheduled at the Gulf Shores Public Library and a week of more documentation scheduled. Here’s what happened.

I was invited to visit Gulf Shores Elementary School Library and read my new children’s book there. I met with kindergarten and third graders, read and listened to their stories. An opportunity to present to about 170 high school kids opened up and so I visited the marine biology and science classes at Foley High School. My visit made the local newspaper. Page and Palette, a great bookstore in Fairhope, invited me to participate in Book Fest–a large event in October–and I did the public library event as scheduled and managed to visit the beaches to document the recovery process. People I met throughout the week kept giving me leads about doing presentations and places where my kid’s books would sell. It felt like doors flying open with amazing ease.

But wait…there’s more. Nature held powerful messages on this trip. First, I saw two bald eagles flying together at Wolf Bay. After hearing their calls, which caused me to look up, I saw two of these amazing birds. The next day, while paddling over the grass beds at Johnson Beach, I heard an owl and looked up to see a great horned owl flying (it was 11am and very sunny) to a pine tree. She landed and I paddled to the edge of the marsh and we watched each other until I lost the staring contest and humbly paddled away. These two species are powerful teachers in the First Nation’s teachings. The bald eagle symbolizes illumination of spirit. It is considered to be a messenger from Great Spirit. They are a symbol of the sun. The great horned owl is a symbol of the moon and higher wisdom.

Stingrays lept beside my board, shrimp jumped in front of it, mullet splashed all around as I paddled. Bass chased small fish in the river, a water snake even showed up. Oh, and let me not forget the six dolphins who escorted me on the Gulf. Pelicans watched me each morning as I paddled past their piling perches. I felt completely surrounded by wildlife which made me incredibly joy-filled.

As I paddled out onto the calm Gulf waters one morning, there was hardly a ripple on the surface of the huge body of water. As I moved offshore a bit, I noticed a very slight, slow roll. The motion was so soft it reminded me of a very strong heartbeat. It felt like I was riding the pulse of Mother Ocean. After all of these profound experiences, I understood with certainty that my new home would be where I was born and breathed salt-air breaths the first days of my life. The place that needed me now was the Gulf of Mexico and my work could benefit not only this precious body of water and wildlife within and around Her, but children and families who live there as well.

“And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot

Have you ever surrendered something you loved to walk the path of service? I don’t feel it is a sacrifice to leave my mountain home. Truly we can never “own” anything. We are given resources and talents with which to serve. I know this move to the Gulf Coast is right and still I grieve the beauty I leave behind even as I celebrate the beauty I walk toward.

What is your call to service? I’d like to know your story. Let us walk bravely together.