My Holy of Holies

By Christine Rose
copyright 2010


This morning, I sat on a rock in my place of places, my holy of holies, the beach. For most of my life, this has been my church; underneath the sun, on a rock, at the edge of the shore, in a place where the birds know me and have soared with me into the face of the wind. That incident happened on a stormy, November day, and I stood atop the highest rocks, my jacket flapping as my outstretched arms welcomed the damp breezes and sharp rain that stung my face. The seagulls decided to join me, and they came to hover in the air around me, their wings spread, their faces into the wind as well. It was a stunning and spectacular moment in my life, but I have had so many that included animals.


People think that we need to teach animals how to live with us. How much better if we were to learn how to live like the animals! Few of us know their peace and simplicity of living. How much better off we would all be if we needed as little as they do. Animals are enlightened beings, and all of our feeble attempts at peace are basically our trying to overcome being human.