A Pelican Inspiration

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

in·spi·ra·tion noun \ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\

: something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone

: a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something

: a good idea

1 a :  a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation

b :  the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions

c :  the act of influencing or suggesting opinions

2 :  the act of drawing in; specifically :  the drawing of air into the lungs

3 a :  the quality or state of being inspired

b :  something that is inspired inspiration

4 :  an inspiring agent or influence

This morning it hit me again.  A chain of events that built up to an inspirational experience I could only think there was a master plan guiding my thoughts and actions this morning.

It started at 4:40 a.m.  I woke up and contemplated whether I'll go out and take pictures this morning.  Thinking I would, I got out of bed, gathered my camera gear, and put it all in my car to allow the lenses to 'warm up' so they didn't fog up as I shot the morning sunrise by the bay.  Fourty-five minutes later I decided I wasn't going to go, then changed my mind as if a force was pushing me to rush out the door.

Before the sunrise their was a unique glow above where the sun would rise, something I have never seen before.  Soon after the sun had risen over the horizon, a brown pelican landed atop a pylon aligned with the sunrise.  I switched from one camera with a wide-angle lens to another with more zoom.  Trying to get that 'perfect' shot I stayed patiently focused on it trying to get the right composition.  In just a few minutes, several groups of pelicans began to fly by, some working hard diving for an early feeding, others just passing in groups of two or more transitioning from south to north following the shoreline.  

"Why was this pelican alone I thought?" I thought to myself.  I then began to reflect upon myself, thoughts of solitude, peace, and quieting the mind to allow for introspection and reflection.

It was 6:58am, the sun was now high above the horizon, and time to make my next move.  Where would I go?   Process the images I already captured?  Head down the road to another of my usual spots?  Go out for breakfast?

I decided to head out for breakfast to a local place close to home.

It was a few minutes after 7:00am when I walked in.  There was a couple on the right and an older gentleman there to my left who I recognized from a few years ago when I was a regular at what was once known as Fred's Grill.  He was always there with his wife.  The last two infrequent visits I made to this restaurant he was alone both times.  I wondered if she passed. I was saddened by the thought of it.

I was kindly greeted by the waiter to be seated.  I hesitated to select my chair.  I normally sat facing looking out the plate glass windows but today I decided to face inward toward the counter.  The waiter politely placed a menu in front of me and said he'd get back to me.  It was a sign already that I may be experiencing poor service.  With only three other folks there, you'd expect to get your coffee order in as you were seated and given a menu.  

It took several minutes, but he finally made it over for my coffee order, then swung over to the couple and took their order.  Before taking the older gentleman's order he went back to the grill to place the couple's order. I started to think with all this back and forth he'd never get to mine. In his hustle of activity I could see he could use some coaching on how to take advantage of his time moving across the floor to serve his customers.  I started to pay attention to the entire experience as I thought about critiquing the restaurant online.

I Googled the restaurant to read reviews as the wait seemed to get a little long for only four people.  As I was reviewing comments another young gentleman who wasn't the waiter came around to refill coffee, starting with the couple.  Not making out the entire conversation, what I thought I heard the young man say to a question about when their breakfast would be served was somewhat of an apology for the morning starting slow because he and his wife who owned the place lived an hour away. Having worked in a restaurant for a few years, I knew what may have been some of the issue as it takes time for a grill to heat up to be ready to start cooking.   I took it as an excuse and it added to a negative customer experience.  My mind was telling me if you own a restaurant that opens at 7:00am folks coming in don't want to order at 7:05am and have it come out at 7:30am, especially if folks have a time constraint or just impatient as I tend to be.

I then decided to download the Apps for TripAdvisor and Yelp to write a review before my experience was complete.  In doing so, my iPhone prompted whether I wanted to update all my Apps and I clicked Update All.   My iPhone was locked up for a while.  I couldn't write the Review yet.

Three timely coffee later the food came out bang, bang, bang in the order they were taken and I presume the order we came in.

As I started to eat my three eggs over medium and two sausage patties, which were cooked perfect, I started to ask myself why was I thinking about writing a negative review on what started poor service.  I started thinking my experience is my experience and how I react to it may or may not be how someone else reacts to it.   So, maybe I wouldn't write the review. Maybe it would be a disservice to the owners to put that out publicly.  I have always been someone who when service is great I let the owner / manager know, and when service is poor, I let them know as well.  I decided not to.

As I continued to eat I saw the owner walk around the back wall with a book in his hand and start to write on the chalkboard where all the Specials were posted.  I immediately thought it was kind of weird he'd be writing a special that came out of a book.  After seeing the first few words, I knew it wasn't a special but a message.  He wrote:

"For this reason I am telling you for in prayer, BELIEVE that it is granted to you, and you will."  Mark 11:24

After I read it I Googled Mark 11:24 to verify the accuracy of it.  The NIV version is:

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Just a few minutes after he wrote it he came around to see who needed refills on their coffee.  As he came by my table I asked him what that quote meant to him as I told him it's easy to write a quote from the bible but to process it internally is wholly different.  He spoke from his heart and witnessed to me as he spoke.  He carried the spirit deep from within his soul through his words.  

That's when it hit me……I was meant to be there.   Not wanting to go out…..feeling pushed to go……a special glow in the horizon before sunrise…..the solitude pelican……sitting facing inward and not outward….questioning my being critical….reading a message…..asking a question……listening……and reflecting.   Like pieces of a puzzle being arranged to see something, feel something and to be inspired by something.  I believe it was all meant to be.  Not being directed, but being guided….the choices are made clear.

The more we open our heart the more our eyes will see.  Life becomes more visible when we let the vibration that is around us fill us.  

Let the spirit in.  

Live it.

As for Mark 11:24 - Study it. Reflect on it. Practice it!  Let it change your life.   I'll leave my story how it changed mine for another day.

God Bless!