The Blue Pearl of a Place

Eastern philosophers believe there is a small blue light that lives inside each of us.

Some say it exists in the head; others, the heart. Through this little orb there is a gateway to something so much bigger than we can ever imagine. Nature, God, spirit...whatever you want to call it. That if we close our eyes and wait patiently, sometimes for many years, it may appear. It is known as the "blue pearl." It is where our soul lives, the place of our essence. And it is said that experiencing the blue pearl reaps the greatest reward, that of coming face-to-face with ourselves.

On this earth, you can also experience the blue pearl of a place. Very near the southern-most tip of the South Island of New Zealand, it appeared unexpectantly, during a stop on the side of the road at a place called McCracken's Rest on Te Waewae Bay.

A sunny day that simply was, along the shore of an ancient water highway used by the Maori as a greenstone route.

It is a place where the wind blows its swirling blanket about you. You sit on the sand and that comfort of air reminds you of your beloved human pack who wish you, as Annie Lamott writes, "traveling mercies." It means, "Be safe, notice beauty, enjoy the journey, God is with you." And it brings tears to your eyes because you believe, deep inside, that you might never understand any of this. But in this blue pearl of place you realize that you have been shown, on this day, a small spark of grace.

Eugene O'Neill wrote, "Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue."