Ms. Tuli0p

It was a gorgeous sunny spring day. The refreshing late afternoon breeze stirred hints of floral scents briefly touching my nose. A small group of us decided to ride mountain bikes on the woods trails behind the Augusta University grounds. A few weeks prior I purchased my first ever mountain bike, a red Specialized Stump Jumper! I was so excited!! After gearing up with a helmet and cycle clothing, off we went for our mountain biking adventure. The terrain was a series of moderately rolling hills covering five or so miles, great for a beginner. What a thrill to be propelling my new bike in the Maine woods without a car or truck in sight!! The joy and exhilaration of experiencing the wind in my face also created a sense of great freedom.

After exiting the woods I was separated from the group and found myself over by the university buildings. A splash of color caught my attention off to one side. Making my way over, I was drawn in like a magnet to a glorious bed of colorful tulips. It was dusk ,so all the tulips had closed their petals for a nightly rest. Dismounting my mountain bike, I got down onto my hands and knees for a better vantage point. One particular tulip drew me in. My heart was so full of love, wonder and appreciation for this moment that I began conversing with the tulip. Suddenly to my wondrous surprise she began to slowly open her delicate petals until they were fully expanded allowing me to take in her sweet inner beauty. I was in a world within a world; at one with this tulip, absorbed into its’ very essence. For those few moments nothing else mattered or existed. The experience lasted only a few moments however, the impression and love is still with me today.

That special encounter took place five years prior to my discovering Eckankar or Eckankar discovering me! Little did I know at the time why I had this experience. It wasn't until years later that I began to recognize the significance and its sweet blessings. On that beautiful spring day my heart was wide open and full of love for life. My inner teacher, the Mahanta, an expression of God in the material worlds who helps and leads Souls back home to God, blessed me with a beautiful gift that lifted my consciousness and opened my heart. To this day, my timely encounter with Ms Tulip continues to remind me that I am Soul and exist because God loves me.

Plants and animals are Soul too, like me, a spark of God. A bond of love transpired between me and Ms Tulip because we are Soul. We are all here to gain spiritual experience and ultimately learn how to give and receive divine love.