Hi Friend,
I was given a pocket size picture of Jesus Christ in a plastic sheath on the full moon of March 16, 1984. My girlfriend had come out to the strong camp fire I had going in the back yard of our Cardiff cottage just when the pouring rain decided to join in.
I remember her arm extending out to me with the picture in her hand as the rain danced around us. We then looked up at each other and she said; “Don’t forget what I taught you about Mother Teresa”.
She was heading off to college and I, well, I was leaving the next day in my red & white, fully loaded, 68 VW van to work on a project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. That trip would extend out to many years of traveling.
Many years later while traveling in Europe, I lost all my money and passport in Barcelona, Spain during Xmas. I spent 3 1/2 weeks walking the streets, eating oranges, observing the Christmas festivities, which was extremely elaborate & spending days in the beautiful churches, waiting for the American Embassy to open.
I would eventually end up spending most of my time at the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, otherwise known as Sagrada Família. Yes, the one they have been building for the last 143 years.
I was befriended by some of the workers there. They could tell that I was obsessed with architecture and simply by shaking my hand they knew I was a true carpenter. They snuck me in at a great risk, to view their work. I became friends with one of the workers and spent my last days in Barcelona living with him and his family. It was a true honor.
When the American Embassy opened, I went in to get my new passport. The officer at the counter said that somebody had come in with a gift for me. He proceeded to hand me my old passport, and nodded that I look inside.
As I open my passport, I found my picture of Jesus Christ and snuggled in just on top was a beautiful picture of Mother Teresa that the returner of my passport left me.
I looked up at the gentleman behind the counter. We were both beaming with big, bright smiles, for we both knew we were part of something very special.
How I made it, with no money, from Barcelona to Madrid to catch a flight to London, where I was living, is a whole other adventure..
Quotes I’m Pondering
“If you are busy judging people, you have no time to love them.”
– Mother Teresa
Things I’ve Learned
“Words have the power to create or destroy — and what we say about others reveals more about us than about them.”
Book I’m slowly reading:
Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta
Edited by Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk
This book reveals Mother Teresa’s private letters and journals — many of which she never intended to be public. It is a deeply personal glimpse into her spiritual life, especially her long periods of doubt and spiritual darkness, often referred to as her “dark night of the soul.”
📖 🧠 Always learning, growing and applying.
The Pranayama Podcast
My podcast interview with Alex Kuhtarev is the 28th of March.
That’s this week, my friends.
Mr. Kuhtarev is a former KGB agent for Russia.
He is now an Entrepreneur, Husband/Father, Human Experience Guide, Pantheist & Plant Medicine Integration Mentor.
Buckle up for this one friends…
View all past The Pranayama Podcast on the website here. Or on our YouTube Channel here.
Music Insight
Song I keep going back to:
Lara Louise – Besame Mucho
You Tube Music | This is my favorite version to date.
Stay in the light of love my friends. It’s always worth it. Dennis
