Finding God in the BART and in Berkeley

Whenever I have to take BART, I find myself quite excited. First, because I won't run into the usual traffic. Second, I get to catch up with my reading or crochet. And third, because it always seems to turn into a spiritual experience for me.

When we were starting out, I felt so poor until I saw a man in front of me in the BART reading the paper 2 days ago. He probably picked it up in the trash can. So then, God gave me a new perspective.

I have been joined by a couple of knitters and/or crocheters and we compared notes as seat mates until our destinations. And just sitting with kindred spirits for a while is enough to know how similar everyone is.

And many times, the signs around the BART offer me some sort of divine message, it has become fun to look around. I remember i was in doubt about how to bring my caboodle to Lake Tahoe and was resistant about my husband's plans because it was just a big hassle. The BART sign in front of me said, "Give Snow A Chance." We went to Tahoe and the kids saw their first snowfall in what couldn't be a more perfect day.

When I let my imagination go and just look at the view from the BART, many moments of clarity and inspiration have sprung up. I guess just looking out the window is a form of meditation for me--my mind and heart are open to possibilities. . .and they come.

Today, I came from Berkeley and met a friend for our usual intense bonding and validation sessions, very rare and precious in the USA. We explored the place and saw a couple of interesting eateries and bookstores. But most of all, we taught ourselves how to be more positive about life and how we must express this into our thinking and actions.

On the way home via BART, I was reading Joel Osteen's
Your Best Life Now and digested this message: "We receive what we believe."

I felt so full of grace and though it is Sunday, I feel that my day's experience beat Mass--where sometimes we sit absent-mindedly and out of obligation.

I hope you can find and feel God everywhere, too.