Clearly I’m very far away from any sort of mastery in this realm. Because within a minute, my little brain had jumped the tracks. Full of my own small challenges yesterday, I’d called my mechanic about my car. It’s a wonderful Mom and Pop shop, with one son working there too, and regrettably, “Moms” (Hazel) passed suddenly just over a month ago. My call didn’t reach my dear friend Walter, the “Pop” in the place and owner, because he was already on the line. However, his recently deceased spouse of 20+ years beautiful, strong voice was on the leave a message tape. Everything I had been carrying as if an issue in my life fell away with the tears that welled up in my eyes. I hope he never changes that tape.
That was one wake up. There were more, as every day carries, more challenges and more chances to grow. One bolt of news in particular yesterday shook my world a bit, and felt personally painful. So today, as the scent of the ground beans wafted, my Zen mind lost its path. It was magically redirected by my heart. Somehow I wondered about a friend of a friend making coffee—and guessed he probably has learned to handle this mundane task despite all. This man whom I’ve never met, named Pete Eckert, is blind.
Magic #1: One, a wonderful sculptor and big-hearted friend in NY state, had been a carpenter himself and somehow I just thought he might relate. He wrote back thanking me—and, stunningly, said he knew Pete, personally, when he lived in CA. He and his wife had visited his studio and they were old friends. I encouraged they reconnect.
More magic: Another friend, a scientist/artists/creative Renaissance guy who I befriended over 35 years ago, posted a VW commercial on FB that Mac had shared with me. It highlights Pete’s work in showing off their new car. That post, was seen by a friend of his, who was very intrigued. That man, also a multi-disciplinary genius of sorts, created and for several years has been organizing a high-tech oriented conference in CA for the best creative minds to pollinate. We were able to eventually connect him to Pete, and soon Pete will be presenting his fine work and amazing story to a gathering of genuine creative problem-solvers (like himself)! As my friend put it, “he may find his tribe.”
For me this is very rich magic. I believe this is utterly why we are here—to help each other get through the muck. Even social media can be a helpful tool if we just take the effort to use it consciously. Typically, Mac wanted to pass credit for all this elsewhere, denying how he was the real initiator of this hopefully fruitful event. A few of us played minor roles in helping build the bridges. For sure, Pete’s truly beautiful works, his incredible tenacity, deeply inspiring grit, and amazing achievements as a person are the origin. I am honored just to even know his story.
But this story for me, is as much as anything about a profound friendship between Mac Bryan and Pete Eckert. This is conscious awareness, truly being awake. As with so much in life that can pass by without recognition, their compassion and love are the real magic.