I was driving along the I-5 one sunny Sunday evening, and with the beautiful warm weather everyone was on the road, returning from their weekend getaways. Traffic was slow and heavy returning to the city. As usual, the traffic movement in any lane was unpredictable, and we were playing the game called “you pass me, now I’ll pass you, and we'll debate who's in the faster lane”.
One of the vehicles I passed was a truck pulling a horse trailer. As I glanced over at the trailer, wondering whether it carried passengers or not, my first observation was the contorted position the horse was in, not facing forward, but backed out of the stall and sideways in the back of this two-horse trailer. Then our eyes met. Oh please, don’t go there, this isn’t a love story, but it is a “hello” story.
I can’t say who said hello first. Maybe it was me, reaching out with my awareness as the initial hello. Regardless, the communication coming back at me was loud and clear, and I understood right away the distress this horse was experiencing. I sent back a calm hello and a breeze of joyful healing energy. Then I drove past the trailer and no longer had the horse or trailer within my vision.
A few minutes later I saw the truck by my side again, and this time they were passing me. Here comes the horse trailer. As soon as the trailer was side-by-side with the passenger window of my car the horse suddenly jutted her lips out the ventilation window, as if to send a kiss. My logical side quickly stepped in with a firm response, “no way”. The trailer passed, and when the trailer was a clear car-length ahead it happened again, lips out the window for a moment as if to say “did you see me?” “Okay, this was a coincidence,” I thought, “My imagination is having a field day”. But it sure was a fun story for the otherwise uneventful drive.
Several miles and minutes passed, and again it was my turn to pass the horse trailer. One final time, as the trailer reached my window those horse lips jutted out the ventilation window again. This time I had been watching the trailer as I approached, and no lips out the window. Again I checked the mirror after I passed: and again: no lips. Ha! Not even my critical mind can argue this one! So there is my story, two lips that passed to the right.
Many things happened in this interlude: the horse received the healing and comfort she was longing for; I received appreciation and acknowledgement of my awareness and abilities; and we both received a hello, the best gift anyone could receive.
There are so many times that we ask for something, and when it comes to us we recieve (or take it) without acknowledgement or thanks. We've forgotten that by giving something in return, even something as simple as a hello or thank you, that we lose nothing. In fact, we have the opportunity to amplify the healing effect, receiving much more than we’ve given.
Gratitude is a form of acceptance. Hello says, “I am, and so are you”. Show your appreciation and gratitude. No wait, even better than that, sow your appreciation. How do you expect your prayers to return to you if you don't set them free? Don’t fret if what you offer is not always received, sometimes we’re all just a little too busy or caught up in the moment to recognize the offerings sent our way. Just plant the seeds, and know they will take root.
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