four leaf clover

I have been quite lucky to have met my share of great souls. And as I write this, I must admit, that the many great souls I have come to know, some of them, (most of them) I have never actually met. I guess that’s the sign of greatness, the ability to inspire, offer guidance and even friendship, without even so much as a handshake.

I remember the best handshake I never got. It was from a man that touched my life profoundly in ways that I am only just beginning to understand. As I stood on the corner of a small street, on a bitter cold March day, I turned to see him, standing there alone, completely unaware of his greatness. I turned back around, gathered my strength to introduce myself, took a deep breath, stood nice and tall, turned around only to find emptiness where he was once was. Gone. My moment to meet him vanished, but for some strange reason I had no regrets, not then, and not even now. Something was clearly different about him, or me, or the day.

As many great souls have come and gone into my life I am often left wondering why? It seems so many people lead ordinary lives and never really face greatness or the flip side, which always comes with it, the darkest corners. I suppose that my path has certainly been more often than not, dimly lit. Perhaps that is why I look so hard for a beacon of hope, of light, and of inspiration. It has never been my intention to live an ordinary life, and in all the up’s, downs and sideways turns life has thrown, I can always say that it has never been plain, or ordinary or dull.
I have been fortunate to have not met such great souls as Pat M., (a woman whose battle with ALS changed the lives of many and still serves as a source of inspiration), the driver of white truck in front of me the nearly the entire way home from Florida to Massachusetts, Diane B. (the editor of a magazine that serves to protect the ocean, at any cost to her. A friend, truer than true, and a soul that is no doubt one the has traveled a path worth knowing), Carrie C. (the kindest soul I have ever not met. A person who chose to listen to her inner voice and teach, and guide, and inspire….against all odds), to Malachy M., one of the few great souls I have actually broken bread with and whose kindness although natural to him, has changed the direction of many sails out on the open waters. And to Frank M. (the greatest soul whose hand I never shook.)

I once read, by an author whose name I’m not sure of, that it would be nice to get to know someone for awhile, perhaps over dinner, or even drinks, without knowing what they did for a living. It would be nice to not pass any judgment on for what they did, who they were, or what they had done, based on a work title. I agreed then and write this with that in mind. (I will only mention this once, and do so because I myself, like clarity. I could be more vague, but I trust you to not judge, validate, or invalidate, anything I say by any names I have or may in the future mention. Like many groups learning their first steps, I ask that you read this, and accept this with complete anonymity to anyone mentioned. It is written to you, my friend(s), with all filters, off.)

With so may great souls that have crossed my path, I have chosen to write about Frank M. Perhaps it is because of his recent crossing over to a light on the water where old souls must, and do always, pass, or maybe it’s because I was remembering a great St. Patrick’s Day with good friends (where Frank M. was the Grand Marshall), or maybe it is something much simpler. Maybe I write this just because he crossed my mind today, as they all did, and do, nearly every day, as I wonder what they see across the sea, and what the ship looks like that has come to carry them home.

When I’m down, I call on these great souls for memories, conversations (yes, I talk to them, quietly, and listen in my mind and in my heart, to what they have to say. I have learned that if I listen as quietly as possible, they do speak, volumes.), and ideas that they once had or have.

As I sit quietly I can almost hear, “…you, the privileged, the chosen, the pampered, with nothing to do but go to school, hang out, do a little studying, go to college, get into a money-making racket, grow into your fat forties, still whining, still complaining, when there are millions around the world who’d offer fingers and toes to be in your seats, nicely clothed, well fed, with the world by the balls.” ~Frank McCourt

I guess the world will never hear again that voice, in quite that manner, but I am confidant that if it’s paying attention, that story will change many more lives.

As I get older, I look for meanings, ways to define what is going on around me. I have defined, at least for me simple truths, certain truths, the secret to my life, and now I offer one more certain truth, how to spot a great soul.

A great soul can be spotted by seeing them not with your eyes, hearing them not with your ears, and more times than not, meeting them without ever saying a word or shaking a hand. A great soul offers hope, inspiration and devotion in a way often disguised in humor, and silence.

What I haven’t defined, is the after life, and may never come to any resolution with that. I have no idea what exists after we close our eyes with the final deep sigh, and exhale for the last time with the last breath, ah, but of this I am certain…. I know that the great souls I have met will be there, laughing, telling tall tales, and offering an outstretched hand, welcoming me to the next stop.

Since I’m in no rush to get “there” though, I offer this tipping of my hat, and my drink and say until then my friends, …..until then…..as I do this though I also must thank them for being there then, now, and then…in a way that I suppose only someone looking for them would see….on the horizon…

Cheers, Chris
www.fourleafclover.us

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 8:51 pm and is filed under Essays.



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