The Spirit of the Blue Morpho

As the heat rises from the brim of my cup my sense of smell triggers a memory. June. Panama. Mountains. Love. Ah yes, the Caballero family. Seems only yesterday I met Lorenzo for the first time back in 2015 as he shared the vision of his family and their coffee farm in Rio Sereno. As I have grown to know and love this family I can’t help but feel their love in this very cup of coffee, roasted and ground at their hands.

My recent visit gave me the butterflies. I met a girl just before I took a trip down to Panama and I was reminded of her spirit often as I watched the beautiful butterflies gliding to and fro from one tree to the next. I remember the moment, whilst trekking down to the river that runs through the middle of the farm, I caught a glimpse of a Blue Morpho. What splendor it had with its eight inch wingspan and iridescent blue coloring. On that rainy day in the green forest this spirit made its presence known to all. Fortunately, I was alone at the sighting so I took the opportunity to embrace the moment. I paused, acknowledged the presence of Spirit, and took one glorious breath soaking in every aspect of my moment. I felt, I knew in my core, all was well.

How did I learn to embrace this moment so well? Ah yes, that too was a beautiful part of my journey this year. In desperation for change and healing I flew out to a transformation center in California, just above the Napa Valley. A center where many spoke of legendary healing. Eager to found out if this place was legit I gave it everything I had and let down all my walls. It was there I found love. This love had always been with me but I needed a hand in remembering. This love was not for another person or thing or experience even, this love was a love for myself. I had forgotten along my path that I too was important. I had lost sight of who I was in my desire to help others. So lost, my helping others had become an object of my expectations for enjoying life. But two hundred hours of healing work brought me back to my center.

Through that work I also became more passionately in love with my Creator again. I know not what form it takes or what origin it may hold, but the inner knowing from within has given me great joy in embracing the unknown. I hold that every moment Spirit is with me when I’m operating at my highest essence and when I’m missing the mark just a bit.

As I take another sip from my coffee I’m reminded of comment made in a recent class I was part of for my new line of work. Although the class was on etiquette the comment was a quick whited remark that one should never blow on their coffee in a formal dinner. I chuckled smugly under my breath for I knew I was guilty on more than one occasion. I take another breath and embrace the air around me. It’s cold today in mid-western Ohio. The snow has fallen more in the last three days than I have perhaps experienced during any given season in Arkansas. The weather is different. The people are different. My life is different. So much to be thankful for and reflect on this season.

It’s hard to imagine how different the year would have been without the embrace of any one of this singular events. But collectively they are such a beautiful part of my journey. A journey Spirit has gifted me to embrace from the first breath it provided. I’m a new man. I can feel it in my bones. And best of all…my best is yet to come! This is my time. Shall we go there together?