Reality Redefined

Many thanks to the gods of Awesome that Andy’s made it back…if anyone can find a way to merge the experiences and realizations of this trip with the grind of law school, it’s him.

I’m still here in Mongolia though…just returned from a trip through the countryside, where faith in love and humanity is fully restored.  I can’t begin to describe the hospitality and friendship that pours from these people, who have nothing and want nothing beyond land, animals, and family.

There’s obviously many stories from the 7 nights with Master Enkee, Wolfgang from the Hobos, and Sophie from Miss Daisy (and the 30 bottles of vodka that went down along the way), but I’d rather break from our normal pattern of giving the events without the details and tell one story in particular…

We’d made our way through Hahorin in Central Mongolia and on up to Lake Khuvsgul to visit my family there and deliver the blanket Ma made for them.  We managed to find their place and drive up in front, but the main man Batjargal had already left to lead some tourists on a horse-ride.  I’d remembered the way to the ger so Enkee asked if I could grab a horse and ride off to catch him before the group left…and next thing I knew I was on a brown horsie riding off into the woods on my own.

I got lost immediately.

Nevermind the 30 minutes or so I needed just to get my bearings on the land, it’s been a while since I rode Mongol style.  In all my glory I managed to lead the horse into a steep mud-soaked cliff and spook the daylights out of him.  He yelped, he reared back, and he freaked, as I held on for dear life.

I didn’t fall though…even managed to calm him and jump off for a rest.  I knew the general direction of where I was supposed to go and had a vague idea of where I was, so I stopped.  I listened.  I reached a moment of peace with both the land and the horse and after 20 minutes or so heard the good sounds and realized exactly where I was.  I found an alternate path down to the main road and let the horse take me the rest of the way (lesson learned, he probably would have taken me the whole way if I’d just let go from the start).

He galloped in, and after two hours lost in the woods I found the pops and gave him Mom’s blanket.  It was perfect.

It’s an experience I’d hoped for and an experience I’ve been waiting for…a concrete reminder that the only sure thing we ever have is the moment we’re in.  So often our lives become a muddy hillside in the forest, when we’ve ventured off alone and overconfident and find ourselves lost and frustrated.  These times of struggle are not to be fought or feared, though.  They are a blessing.  These are times to stop and listen…to relax and relish the opportunity to truly find peace in the present…to perhaps find an alternate path.

Take some time to slow your lives and quiet your minds, my friends, even if it’s only for a minute.  You’ll find that there’s peaceful energy and loving people all around you at any moment, and ultimately you’ll find contentment.

That’s all reality is, after all.

Skip, out. (SkipLizard Homepage)

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