I am going to tell you a story which happened before my first great Initiation.

At that time, I seriously began to question myself about the meaning of life. I had experienced material success, started a family, tasted the numerous life's pleasures, but without ever attaining anything looking like happiness and what I call fulfillment today.

During a trip in southern Africa, I felt I had to make a decision. Either I had to go further in my spiritual quest or I had to resume my previous professional activities. I was accumulating money problems, my family relationship were loosening, and I was feeling somewhat disappointed.

I was deep in thoughts one morning and took a taxi to go downtown. When we stopped at a red light my attention was caught by a strange being looking at me with a beautiful smile.

I say a strange being because he wasn't quite a man anymore, physically speaking.

As a single member, he only had a little skinny arm.
Never before had I seen such an handicapped person.
But this wasn't the most extraordinary thing.

The most extraordinary was the expression of this man.

His look, his face, and actually his whole being were beaming and expressing happiness, as I had never seen it before.

In the eyes of this man I saw the expression of my spiritual quest.
This man overcome by his numerous disabilities and living in extreme misery was happy and I was not.

And through the smile of this man, God Himself smiled at me !
But the vision of beauty also highlights ugliness.

And the beautiful smile of this man unveiled my own ugliness to me.
For there was me, a few seconds before, moaning about my lot, whereas I was perfectly healthy, and staying in a luxury hotel.

I had never experienced either hunger or torture and was deplorably moaning about my lot.

I tell you, this man who looked like the most miserable among beggars made me understand that I was the most miserable beggar !
For verily I say unto you, this man was rich among men, for he possessed Christ and Christ had been revealed to Him !

And if at this time my consciousness had been higher, then I would have got out of the car immediately and I would have kneeled down in front of this man.

I would have implored him who certainly didn't claim to be a master to accept me as his disciple.

That day, I tell you, God was revealed to me through this man looking so miserable but who was extremely rich in his heart and spirit.

May God bless you as this man for whom my gratefulness is eternal.

Amedee