East
of Steamboat Springs, Colorado
No Divide
Matthew
had told us that Jackson County is the largest county in the U.S. with no
stoplights whatsoever. Well, we have left that county, on foot, for new
territory, which landed us at the Great Continental Divide. Reaching an
elevation of over 9,000 feet, where the watershed here has water flowing to
both the Atlantic and the Pacific. A local said, “If you pee at that spot, some
of you goes to either ocean.”
From
that location, Rabbit Ears Pass, I ventured west through altitude changes. My
breath could be seen when up high and when low. I felt some warmth. That’s what
I call climate change.
I did
have time to reflect during the ascent and descent, and going around the bend.
I thought of my colleague, who’s also been a monk for over forty years. Danovir
Goswami is American born, has written several books on monastic life, but is
now stricken with Parkinson’s disease.
I met
him at the ISKCON Denver centre the last two Sundays when our team joined in
with the Bhakti-yoga functions. Danovir Goswami has always taken a right-wing
stance on issues, and that usually was too abrasive for my liking. It meant
that our communication wasn’t strong, although, mutually, we respected one
another.
Now,
when I saw his condition, I was compelled to go for a long friend’s embrace at
each of those two visits. It felt good and right. Let opposing opinions be
swept to the side, as we are all truly devotionally one. There is no divide.
During
such meditations, a local mason, Tim, pulled over. He was so curious. Also a
young pregnant woman stopped after her parents saw me. Unable to veer over
their massive camper at a 7% grade decline, they called their daughter, who was
in another car, to get some water to the monk.
May
the Source be with you!
20
miles
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