Sunday, May 12th, 2013

I Took to McCreary's Ridge

Moundsville, West Virginia

I took to McCreary's Ridge Road when the week-end's event came to an end. As usual the Festival of Inspiration was as it was set out to be - a program that lifts the spirit. I particularly liked, as part of the entertainment, the routine of Ekendra who is a stand-up comic, portrayed Yama Niyama, a Russian fundamentalist Krishna monk. He is out to condemn all non-believers and places harsh judgement on any left-wing devotion. He's dug a deep opinionated trench for himself and we, the audience, love the laughter he creates.

As I trailed along on that Ridge Road I breathed in a great air and relished a calm wind that was taking the trees for a dance. I reflected on the great performance our troupe executed. Our drama, 'Gita: Concise' went well. What was happening is that on the average every other motorist stopped (mostly festival goers) to offer a ride which added to the joy of the day. People are good at heart!

When you walk with the sky above you and the natural colours around beckon you to dream, I do dream. I thought of the dream of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, to make the world a lighter and brighter place, to discourage a world bent on "profit" and to make it more "godfit." Yes, "fit God in" was his message.

Automobiles moved slowly along that windy and pitted road and then one came, the one that was my ride. We were then destined for a seven hour drive back to Canada. On the way back our crew of passengers were speaking about that dream and I recalled that in Pennsylvania, the modest city of Butler was enroute. This was the place where our guru's dream to alter the world's ways began. He stayed and spoke formally at the YMCA in September of '65. Butler was his touchdown in America and the first place where his dream began to materialize in the western world.

We enthusiastically pilled out of the van and stood in front of the Y for a photo of that historic place. What a special spot!

6 KM