The Magical Mystery Ride

How I Met Sarah Rowan 
The Beatles, arguably the greatest thing to come out of England since the Magna Carta, produced an amazing album titled the Magical Mystery Tour. True to its title, the songs were indeed magical and us listeners were taken on a mysterious tour by the experience of playing the LP on the turntable.

 My first Eden Board meeting, a 2-day event at Bill and Jude Thomas’s abode in Sherburne, New York, occurred almost 20 years ago. I flew into Syracuse, NY the night before, rented a car and would make the 2-hour drive early the next morning. I was requested to meet Sarah Rowan at the Syracuse hotel, who would be attending her first board meeting as well, and the plan was to drive down together.  The only thing I knew was her name, nevertheless happy to have the company and could sure use a navigator, I thought to myself. 

Late that evening at the hotel I went to have dinner, and there in the corner, by herself, was a demure silver haired lady. I went over, “are you Sarah Rowan?” I queried. She greeted me with” please join me for dinner and I am so honored to be riding with you tomorrow. I have heard so many things about you and so much to learn” and she went on effusively. I wasn’t sure what was happening or what she might have heard. I was reserved as is my wont. We ate quietly, it was late, and we had to leave early that morning. I said good night as she commented that she was really looking forward to the drive, and “yes,” she clairvoyantly offered, “I am a good navigator.” 

 The Watch, Basel, and Sarah’s Permission 
(Something is happening here)
Off we went, driving down the backroads of central New York. “that’s a nice watch you’re wearing” Sarah melodically said, “is it Swiss”? “Why yes.”  “Have you ever been to Switzerland”? “No, but I always desired to go to Basel, where they have the annual watch fair. All the major watch makers attend. Lots of eye candy for watch enthusiasts” I, with more energy chatted. “Oh yes” Sarah gushed, “I’ve been to Basel, you should go, you’d love it.” I shrugged and told her “it’s too bourgeois, I can’t justify it.” Sarah then declared something that shook me: “Jeff, I give you permission to go to Basel.” I smiled, though inside I was shaken with her choice of words. Giving me permission? I could have predicted the usual words of encouragement, but she’s giving me permission!! I attempted to politely demur. Sarah read my unease and in an even more affirmative voice repeated with emphasis” Jeff, I give you permission to go to Basel.”
 

Having Fun Driving Through the Towns
Meanwhile we are driving through these New York towns. Sarah mused on their similarities and quaintness. We observed the steeples and churches, each with a quite visible clock. Some had the correct time, others obviously not working. I said the ones with the clock not working might entice me to go in. Maybe they engender religious experiences when time doesn’t exist. We laughed, would stop the car by some unique stores, go in for a few minutes. Time was becoming less of a concern to us.

 Sarah and Pinon and Life
“Jeff, do you realize how many lives you have made a difference: elders lives, people who have been abandoned and had mental issues, the professional lives of the people that work for Pinon Management. I admire that, you must be so proud, I am in awe. I know all about you I want you to know.” “Sarah,” I embarrassingly retorted, “I don’t think about that. I do think about the people that took time out of their lives to invest in my wellbeing. They saw in me what I didn’t and became a catalyst of consciousness raising. Without them I would be broken and lost. My life would be of no meaning. I wouldn’t be riding in the car today with Sarah Rowan.”

 Sarah’s Story     
I then turned the conversation to her. What was her connection to Eden, what was her story? She told of her husband, the love of her life. He had Alzheimer’s and behavioral challenges. He got evicted from three nursing homes and then she found an Eden home and he was safe and loved there. It made all the difference in the world. “I’m a big believer in Eden,” she concluded with a sigh. She continued with how she was asked to speak at events and assist others that were in similar predicaments.

 “But you know what I can’t understand is why I was asked to be on the Eden Board. You all have so much knowledge and experience and I don’t.” My response to Sarah, “you represent the consumer end of things,” was a visceral one, and would change over the course of the ride, as she would reprise the same query. The awareness of the moment I was in was evolving and would radically change my response. I still had work to do to elevate to her level. The journey was barely halfway done, there was time.

 Baseball and Sarah’s Husband
“How was growing up in New York City?” Sarah inquired. “I don’t remember much, most of my childhood has been blocked out. I wasn’t close or felt connected to my parents. One thing I do remember is baseball. NYC had three baseball teams back then and that was my life, besides school. I grew up with Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson.” I went on and on as Sarah seemed very attentive. When my soliloquy was finished Sarah responded joyfully that her husband was a big baseball fan. “You know I took him on a trip so we could go to Cooperstown, NY, and the baseball hall of fame. He always so desired to go there.  It was so much fun! After we spent hours walking through it, we got in the car. I said to him, wasn’t it exciting to be in Cooperstown? You know Jeff, he responded that yes, but could we please go to the hall of fame the next time.” Then she cracked up laughing. She was laughing unrestrained as I was trying not to be sad and say something lame like “I’m so sorry..” I realized there was no reason to extend sympathy; she so enjoyed telling me the story. Sarah, the teacher, helped me climb up one more rung on Jacob’s Ladder.

 My parents and the airplane accident
(Take a sad song and make it better)
“Now then tell me about your parents Jeff, why weren’t you connected to them?”
“Good Lord,” I thought to myself. I rarely discuss the story of my parents and I’ve only known Sarah for an hour and a half. I realized that I left the opening and had only two choices: to say I don’t want to talk about it, or let it flow out. I chose the latter. I told how I was extremely shy and my parents threw me into social gatherings, as dances and such. It was pure torture for me, but I did learn the art of self-effacement as a survival tool. I went on and on about my childhood and how it all ended when I was a freshman at Syracuse University. I got a call from two of my uncles on the phone: my parents died in an airplane crash. It was March 1, 1962. They were going on vacation to LA. Everyone on the plane perished. It crashed 60 seconds after takeoff in Jamaica Bay. Ninety Five people died.
 

The last thing I desired at this point was any expression of pathos or sorrow. Up to this point the car ride was blissful. It needed to stay that way.  I prayed that Sarah would not go down that path but braced myself nevertheless. Sarah, very tuned in, did not disappoint. She elevated the conversation. “They would be so proud of you,” she said. “They may even know and I’m certain they are comforted that their premature passing only made you better and stronger. Yes, I’m certain of that. Your life has given them peace.”  POW!!! That was precisely what I needed. Sarah, the healer.

 Satsang
The Company of Truth
Satsang is a Sanskrit word that means being in the presence of Truth. It’s not intellectual, political, opinionated, or ideological.  Nor is it subjected to judgement or debate. It is the expression when one is a vessel for the universal energy flowing through you. Prerequisites are an uncluttered mind, a loving heart, and an innate humility. The three-fold ancient path, as taught by spiritual masters to enhance spiritual growth consisted of satsang, service, and meditation. 

The car ride had all the characteristics of satsang. The conversation flowed with spontaneity, and whether it was humorous or poignant or profound, it felt wise and heartfelt. The level of awareness, the flow of words, were infused with lessons on life’s journey. 

As we closed in on our destination, the Eden Board meeting, Sarah asked me one more time, “what is my role on the Board? You all have so much knowledge and I don’t nearly match up, she lamented, why do you think I was solicited, I have so little to offer?” My response this time was quite different as it poured out of my mouth. “Sarah, think of a wheel. There are the spokes all connected to a hub. The spokes represent knowledge, the hub represents wisdom. Spokes without a hub will fly in different directions and certainly the wheel cannot move.  The hub holds it together; it is the center. It is Truth. All the knowledge in the world is one big lie without wisdom. You, Sarah, are the Truth for Eden. You exude the wisdom that makes the knowledge whole. You are on the Board because you are the hub, the soul of Eden.” I’m not sure where those words came from, but I was in the presence of a muse, among all the other qualities of Sarah. It was a flow of words, not a recitation of thoughts. I could tell Sarah was comforted by it.
 

We were now at the end of the road trip. Our friendship endures to this day. Many times we refer back to our magical car ride. It never fails to lift the spirits.