Every year, myself and a few friends mostly men, retreated into the woods of Algonquin Park for a few days. We would paddle from morning to late into the evening; portaged a few almost impassable trails, to reach our destination: in the middle of nowhere. Not a trace of civilization could be heard or be seen for hours; there were no phone receptions, no way to reach us, disconnected from the world and became part of environment. And every year when we planned this expedition, we asked ourselves the same question – what is the purpose of this trip? The answer remained the same: to find out the meaning of life.
In the middle of this vast open space in Ontario Park, the pearl of natural beauty, unspoiled by human development, some of us meditate, others just relax, take the pleasure in the fresh air, and many smokes pot. All in hope that our question would finally revealed. But after so many years, when we started the yearly ritual we didn’t have any kids, now many of our children are in the teenage year, and we still didn’t find the answer. But last year, we had a epiphany. We didn’t know if it was the pot smoking or the lack of foods, or whatever happened, we saw God.
Out from the trees, he raised up into the air and looked down at us. We didn’t know what to think but our logic kicked in “who are you?” We asked. Without replied, He studied us for a moment without any comment, like a parents looking at his children. “I have many names,” he replied “many called me God, some called me Buddha, and others call me Mother Nature. I’m the trees, I’m the winds, I’m the clouds. I’m whatever you want me to be.” While our the astonishment hadn’t yet set in, God shook his head: left and right, “You’re party too hard there my son,” he commented, hinting at the smokes raising up from out tent. We smirked. Without waiting, we blurted, “if you are God, then, can you tell us the meaning of life?” We asked in hope that he could provide answer to our quest. He gave a smile, a hint of pleasing that his children asked such a question, rather than the lotto numbers for tomorrow. Shook his head, “It’s not for me to tell you my son, but it’s for you to find out,” he answered, without much fanfare he scattered into the wind and receded from view.
to be continued….
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