450 km West Coast Solo Kayak trip — Part 12
It was a short two-hour paddle to my destination at Calvin Creek. My friends, who were hiking, would be another four hours. I set up camp beside the majestic Falls (pictured above) and started bread preparation. Calvin Creek was a favorite spot for hikers on the Nootka Trail with its natural beauty, freshwater, and exotic swimming holes above the falls.
As mealtime drew near, I finished my bread and battered and cooked some fresh cod to bring to the shared meal. I felt privileged to bring my portion to the table. We ate, laughed, and then sat around a campfire. Curious about everyone’s life — I asked questions as each person took turns sharing.
Strangers on a beach, in the middle of nowhere, connected by our humanity. These young people were inspiring as they shared their hopes and dreams. For me, on that day, as the sun was setting, these vibrant, free-spirited young people were the face of God. I was standing on sacred ground. I had been looking for God on the high seas, in the fog banks, on the beaches, in the wildlife, and in the sunsets, but on that night, God was sharing stories, laughing, smiling, and offering me hope for humanity.
There is an ancient story of a man named Jacob who woke up from a magical dream and said: “Surely God was in this place, and I wasn’t aware of it”. That is the story of a man waking up to a greater awareness of who — and where — God is.
For over fifteen years, I had been trying to shake some archaic views of God. That day, like Jacob, I was getting a glimpse of something bigger and better than I could ever imagine. I found God in the most unlikely, ordinary, humble people. It was my revelatory moment of the trip.
As I rested my head on my pillow that night, I smiled and thought there was nothing more to find. It was time to set my sights on home.
Part 13 — click here.
To see my theological exploration of “nothing is everything” click here. For a philosophical exploration of the same, see my stories of the philosopher Hegel here.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to follow me.
