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Crossing the Water: Champion of Serenity
A crisp, clear and early morning, sitting silently together on the bank of the River, in humble appreciation at the beauty of all Creation, and with eager anticipation of the first tight line: this is where Sawan and I knew each other best. Somewhere between awe and adventure. While 6 am riverside would seem like the beginning, and indeed it was the starting place of hundreds of stories of trout pursued, our True adventure would start hours earlier and linger long past the last satisfied cast. Thousands of miles of road there and back lay witness to the countless conversations that laid the foundation of our friendship.
Sawan was the best friend I ever had. It will come as no surprise to me to hear others make this claim as well. His capacity for love was unprecedented, and his devotion to those he loved unrivaled. In these haunting hours he and I revealed and shared the deepest places of our hearts. We suffered through the most difficult struggles, and rejoiced together in the greatest of life’s joys. We knew each other, and knew ourselves better through each other. Sawan had a gift of love with patience. He had a talent for both listening and hearing. It didn’t matter if the conversation was about me or about him, about philosophy or religion or politics or science…he would listen and hear and then deliver his comments and advices with deliberate repose. And his wisdom was deep and rich with experience and thoughtfulness.
One ridiculously early morning in our Pursuit of Trout and Truth, entrenched in a conversation of heartache and struggle, both bombarded by some of life’s difficult obstacles, Sawan offered me a wonderful analogy. “Our journey in life is like a river,” he said, “It’s not that we are drifting down it trying to avoid the rocks. It’s more like we’re trying to cross from one side to other, by leaping from one rock to the next. Occasionally you slip or miss and life sweeps you away until you can grab hold of the next rock. The trick is not to find yourself on a rock that’s safe and warm, and forget that you’re trying to cross the River.”
My dear and true friend…while I am devastated at the thought of standing in this river without you, I delight in knowing that you made it across, with such a posture of serenity. And I am comforted knowing that you are still within sight, shining bright and steady on the other bank, in eager anticipation of my arrival and the next tight line…
~h
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