A friend of mine just started a business involving pearls and she had to delay the start of her party because her pearls had not come in yet. Talking with her about it made me think about a story I read once in a book called Perfume of the Desert by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut. The story is a short but simple one which is a great reminder of the transformative power of questing.
"Shibli sought out Junayd as a teacher and said to him, 'Many people have informed me that you are a supreme expert on the pearls of awakening and divine wisdom. Either give me one of these pearls or sell one to me.'
"Junayd smiled. 'If I sell you one, you won't be able to pay the price; if I give you one, coming by it so easily will drive you to undervalue it. Do like me; dive headfirst into the Sea. If you wait patiently, you will obtain your Pearl.' "
Questing is about the journey. It requires intentionality, patience, and commitment to waiting on the pearl which is ours. I have found their story to be so true. I have valued the lessons I have learned on my journey when I have worked to discover them myself, then when they were just handed to me.
One of my spiritual partnership clients told me once that our 28 week and 28 day spiritual cleansing program is like a quest. Even though one does all the work from the privacy of one’s home, each week requires one to be patient and open one’s self up to the pearls that are theirs for that week.
Questing is all about the journey. Junayd, the teacher, did not acquire his pearls of awakening and divine widom from others. He tells Shibli, the student, “Do like me; dive headfirst into the Sea. If you wait patiently, you will obtain your Pearl. Those we admire spiritually and who appear to have pearls of wisdom, acquired those because they dove into the sea and waited for the wisdom to cultivate in them.
We are instructed to dive into the sea. Interestingly pearl diving used to be done primarily in oceans. Now most pearl diving is done in the seas. It challenged me to seek out the difference between the two. Like many people I think I used the terms ocean and sea interchangeably. However, the sea is actually the body of water between the ocean and the land. So while one is diving for pearls in the sea, one can still find comfort in being able to see the land to which they will be returning and the ocean which is a visible reminder of something vaster then we can envision.
As I have been thinking about this I came to realize that what enables us to come to the sea and dive for those deeper and richer pearls of wisdom is our ability to follow the rivers of wisdom that appear to us more frequently and with less effort. If we can’t learn to find the treasure in the rivers, how are we going to learn how to dive into the sea and find the pearls waiting for us there. This gets at the lyrics of a song called River by Emeli Sande. She sings
If you’re looking for the big adventure
And gold is all that’s on your mind
If all you wants someone to take your picture
Then I won’t waste your time
See maybe I’m too quiet for you
You’ve probably never noticed me
But if you’re too big to follow rivers
How you ever gonna find the sea?
The lyrics which follow remind me that the quest is not one that we embark on by ourself. If we follow the guidance of our Higher Power, we will be led to the pearls we are diving to find.
[Chorus:]
So follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’ll do the running for you
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’ll move the mountains for you
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’m here to keep you floating
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
River, river
If we are seeking the pearls of wisdom and awakening in our life, then we need to confide in our Higher Power and the pearls will come to us.
If all you want are answers to your questions
And you can’t seem to find no love for free
If you’re looking for the right direction, then darling look for me
See I can make the load much lighter, I just need you to confide in me
But if you’re too proud to follow rivers, how you ever gonna find the sea?
[Repeat Chorus]
Wherever you’re standing, I will be by your side
Through the good, through the bad, I’ll never be hard to find
Said wherever you’re standing I will be by your side
Through the good, through the bad, I’ll never be hard to find
[Repeat Chorus]
Wherever you’re standing, I will be by your side
Through the good, through the bad, I’ll never be hard to find
As we engage in our own pearl diving journeys, may we be mindful to follow the signs, symbols, and guidance of our Higher Power. May we practice on our journey on the rivers of life, so that we are open and prepared for the pearls which will come to us in the sea.