For Virginia :: When one is forgotten, one dies yet another time.

So regarding my promise to David. I promised David that I would get to see his Descanso for Virginia. I am in Florida & the Descanso is in Arizona. The first thought was " how am I going to get there to see his Descanso?"

So I figured I can ask somebody there to do a favor for me. I have been writing emails making a request for an image of the Descanso. Yes, it is an unreasonable request, but one I know I must do. I feel the promise must be fulfilled. Then the next thought that came to mind is

"what makes me think that I can get a stranger to do me a favor." What makes me think that I can get to see his memorial. The Arrogance that I think I can will somebody into doing something for a stranger just because I ask!

So I've had to put those thoughts aside & I have to do it anyway. So for the last few weeks, I have been searching for people in Arizona. I did a search for preachers in the area; business owners; even teachers who may teach photography. I started contacting people I didn't know, in Apache Junction, AZ. I sent out about 100 emails, but no reply - all to keep my promise.

One email I had to send was to Roy Pope of roypopephotography.com. What caught my attention is the first line in his "About the Artist" page. It reads :

"Roy photographs the world with a pair of loving eyes and a hugging heart."

When I read this, I just knew that I needed to contact him. Something told me that he would be the one to help me fulfill my promise. So I sent it out!

Two weeks have passed and no reply from anybody.

That is no replies...

until today! I received an email reply. Roy has attached a file! My heart is pounding in disbelief! I can't believe it - he attached a photograph! As I open his email, I see three simple lines ending in "Thank You" - wow! he's thanking me - I was the one asking for the favor and he's thanking me. This caught me by surprise! So I replied, thanking him & wondering what was present for him that he is thanking me. His replied:

In this time when mother earth is changing as we willed her to do, this has touched my heart.

He went on to explain

"when one is forgotten, one dies yet another time."

Wow! out of what I thought was a favor for me, he was touched, moved and inspired to take the picture! I now see that having the magic of an "outside the box" life can be had simply out of me being real, expressing what is present for myself and allowing another to experience that.

What I learned from this is that out of me wanting to fulfill my purpose, I have touched another and allow them to be inspired. You just never know what you can cause in the life of another.