Why it’s good to always walk with your eyes open
It was the regular Tuesday night open mic at the Goldhawk (936 Park Ave, Hoboken) with a twist. Host Dave Entwistle of the band Butterspy was also the featured act. Playing with him were two members of the Marafanyi Percussion Project whose rhythmic inclusion lent a mystical dynamic to Dave’s cool, funky acoustic tunes.
During the set, Dave shared an experience he had in Maui with the crowd. One day as he and his wife were walking around this little town—shopping for what he called ‘girlie’ things—when she noticed that he was getting bored. So she mentioned that there was a spiritual bookstore nearby. Dave has always been someone very interested in learning about life, culture and philosophy so he was eager to check it out.
Off he went down this road, then a left on to another. He wasn’t quite sure if he was heading in the right direction, but it was Hawaii. A place that for a guy born in Liverpool, raised in Toronto and now living in Hoboken was paradise defined. So a bit of seemingly aimless wandering was not a worry. Then he came upon a building, the only one in the area. He assumed this was the bookstore.
As he walked in he could see it was not and suddenly he was face to face with one of his spiritual heroes, Ram Dass. This place as it turned out was The Center for Spiritual Studies. Dave described how his body and spirit were overwhelmed, shaking in excitement and anticipation of talking with this teacher. And how beautiful it was to accidentally end up in the very place he needed to be.
This story illustrates a point I always make but all too often fail to live by. And that is, no matter where you are—around the block or across the world—travel with your eyes and mind wide open because you never know who you might meet. It may be a friend you saw the night before or twenty years ago. It may be a total stranger or a person you’ve admired from a far forever whose kindness could change your life.
See Also:
Ram Dass
The Center for Spiritual Studies
Butterspy
