I went searching today...

I went on my search for The Guru... My Guru. I heard that there was a Hindu based spiritual center in Santa Monica, on Main St. I happened to be in the area... and I double checked Google.com, which in deed showed this group: Ananada-LA to be on Main St. But when I went there, it was no longer at that location. Instead a smoke shop had taken it's place.

Discouraged, I walked on and found I was close to Hill House in Santa Monica. Although I've never been, I've heard of it. In the local Starbucks there was a advertisement for some groups meeting at Hill House (on Hill St. in Santa Monica.) I walked there. It wasn't far. Just up the street, across from a Latin based Baptist church and next to a Lutheran church. An older woman and man were cleaning up around the place, and I inquired about their calendar. But they had no real calendar of events. Just a board with notes of things going on. I checked the board and nothing rang out to me.

Again I was discouraged.

But then I recalled something. Earlier, while I was walking along this trek, I met a beggar. He was sitting on a wall. I was being stupid and tried to ignore him and move quickly past him. But my wife held me back. While I slowed down and neared this fellow. He smiled and asked, "Excuse me. Can you understand my sign?"

I was upset. At first I was angry. I felt pissed off. I was like "Of course I can read." I felt like it was a confrontation to get money from me. But I didn't read the sign. I glanced at it. He had a lot going on with that little sign. He had written all over it.

My wife's heart opened and she said, "Oh, give him something." I felt happy to give at that time, and I pulled out a dollar and give it to the man. He had the sweetest smile. It was just a dollar, but he turned to me and said, "Bless you! Bless you on this three day weekend." It wasn't a three day weekend. But I got his meaning. Then I realized something, I hadn't read his sign.

The Dharma, is all around. It's messages constantly reaching out to us. I missed an opportunity to take this in. Next time, I'll try not to be in my head, and be in the present moment. Then I'll be more aware to read the signs in life. Both the literal and figurative signs.