Anyone who knows me well knows my whole life is about living spiritually. Part of that is being aware of the blessings and miracles that occur everyday. With the drama of life going on around us at every minute, often this is easier said than done. I must have forgotten to take inventory of my miracles, because the Universe reminded me to not long ago.
I was on vacation in Hawaii with my husband and two children. We stayed in Waikoloa on the Big Island and were planning an excursion to Volcanoes National Park. It was a 2.5 hour drive and I wasn’t sure how our two girls aged 8 and 6 were going to enjoy the day. In my morning meditation, my higher guidance sent me a message through the goddess Pele, which I thought was very appropriate, since Pele is the goddess of the very volcanoes we were planning on visiting. Pele welcomed me to her home and she assured me that all my needs would be taken care of. She invited me to enjoy myself and I felt like all would be well with journey.
I got out of bed and the hustle and bustle of the day began. We woke up the children, got them ready, gathered all the necessary traveling items, had breakfast and were off.
We took the long, scenic drive to the volcanoes, deciding that on the way back we would then take the quick, less scenic route across the island. The scenery was lovely and other than it being a 2.5 hour drive, we arrived without a hitch. Thanks Pele.
We did a short, fun hike through the Thurston Lava tube, then without much thought we began the trail to hike the Kileaea Iki Crater (see attached picture). The 40 stories down the crater was through thick vegetation with beautiful lookout points. We all were really enjoying ourselves. Finally we made it the bottom and began our hike across the 2 mile long crater. It was breathtaking. The earth was all cooled molten lava with many pockets bulging here and there where air pockets had formed while the rock was cooling. You could see various groups of people in the distance. We were all alone to enjoy and explore this earthly wonder. It was almost magical…that is until my 6 year old daughter learned the first rule of travelling by foot on lava rock. Don’t run. She did. She tripped. She fell. Ouch.
Lava rock is not like any other earth material. It’s very glass like and sharp. When you fall on it, you don’t just skin your knee. You get cut up. There we were in the middle of a crater, with a crying 6 year old, bleeding from both knees, her elbow, and her hand. I searched for a tissue in my bag when out of nowhere a guide appears and says, “May I help? I have a first aid kit with me for just this sort of thing.” He bandaged my daughter so that no blood was longer visible, and gave her a little bottle of water. And just as fast as he appeared, he was off. What an angel. Thanks Pele.
By the time we had made it across the crater, I was feeling the heat. We had traversed the crater in the hot sun, steam vents surrounding us, and we were walking on black lava rock. I exhausted the last of our fresh water supplies as we began our trek back up. I was feeling winded and my muscles were aching with every step. We reached a look out point and a Hawaiian man was sitting on a bench with a ukelele in his hand. He said, “Aloha. Where are you from?” We exchanged pleasantries and my daughter asked him if he could play a song. He kindly obliged and I was very grateful to be able sit on the bench and catch my breath. I also enjoyed his sweet Hawaiian song – a real taste of Hawaiian culture. Thanks Pele.
We thanked this kind stranger and continued on. Only 1.5 miles left to go. Towards the end I was really beginning to feel overheated. Wouldn’t you know it, the coolest, gentlest rain began to fall. I was elated. It gave me the energy I needed to finish the hike, and I did, with a big smile on my face. Thanks Pele!
The miracles didn’t end there. I won’t tell you them all, but on the drive home we missed the turn to go down the faster road through the middle of the island, so we went the scenic route back. I was a little disappointed until we saw that the mountain, which the faster highway goes over, was completely under cloud cover. If we took that road home, we would have driving in some very thick fog. Thank you once again!!
Miracles happen to us everyday if we stop to pay attention. Most of them aren’t the ‘OMG I got out of my wheelchair and walked’ kind of miracles, but they are miracles just the same. Easing a child’s tears and bleeding in the middle of nowhere is a miracle. Getting a break just when you need it is a miracle. And I am very grateful for them.
What miracles are you missing in your life? Are they missing or are they just being missed? It has always been my experience that when you start looking for miracles, you see them everywhere. I wonder what miracle I’ll witness next? Now that’s a joyful way to live life and the journey I want to travel!
