Journal of Sacred Work

[The following meditation was written by Liz Wessel, R.N., M.S., St. Joseph Health System]

If you drive by Laguna Beach, California on a Sunday morning, you may be surprised at how life bustles at daybreak. I am. Each week, Christian men gather faithfully to cook a hot breakfast
for homeless people. They stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle of prayerful
fellowship singing songs of praise. The nearby coffee shop is busy filling cups
of fancy brew for a line of eager customers. Dogs happily trot beside their
masters on the boardwalk attracting warm smiles and the greetings of passersby.
Thirty hopeful teenagers train for lifeguard positions. They fan the icy water in a sight as wondrous as a pod of dolphins emerging
and disappearing amid ocean waves…

   My husband Woody, Crimson, a divine 8-year-old, and I, kick up
sand and write our names on a canvas of beach as we meander towards tide pools carved
in smooth sandstone. The tidewater rushes rhythmically, as we time our footing to avoid the risk of seawater surging into our sneakers.
   In this out of the way area, we stumble upon a circle
of people who are laughing boisterously. I resist the temptation to stare and quickly look away
to avoid intruding on their privacy. As I listen to their howling, I am struck
by an unnatural resonance. I cannot help
but feel a little embarrassed for these laughers. 
   It leads me to wonder, “Is our wellspring of joy so deeply
buried that we must practice laughing to relearn this basic human emotion? Is
our modern world growing so complex, hectic, and stressful that we are left dry,
lifeless, and unable to connect with our hidden joy?
   It seems to me that the
beauty of laughter is in the spontaneity of the moment. On the other hand, “Who
am I to judge? Well, good for them and imagine that!  Here they stand in community, on a beautiful sunny
morning, laughing aloud, admittedly seeming a little foolish; yet they courageously
open their hearts. Like me, they yearn to discover themselves anew.
   I
practice daily devotions and I participate in this Journal with a sincere desire
to ‘Live Love.’ When I look with the eyes of my heart, I am able to see my frailties,
and limitations without judgment. Small blows crack this hard shell
of my idealized persona. As my pretenses begin to fall away, and old worn out
patterns die, I am left feeling Love’s gentle presence.
   We continue exploring the tide pools and marvel at the ocean’s
treasures of sea anemones, fiddler crabs, fish, muscles, sea urchins, barnacles,
and seashells. Gazing into ocean’s sky, I see two billowy continents adrift,
each separated by a blue sea. In slow motion, these landmasses
are drawn towards Love’s longing. Trusting, they discover their design as two
interlocking pieces of a puzzle and merge into one. An invisible breeze
brushes satin across faces, gingerly kisses eyes awake, and flushes cheeks
pink.
   We pass the group again. They are in a circle holding
hands and calling out Loving affirmations in unison. I notice a nearby sign that
identifies them as the Laguna Beach Laughter Club with an invitation to join
them. Smiling, I say to my companions, “Oh, wow, see that? We could have joined
in! Ah, well, maybe next time!”