For Easter Sunday, I picked up "BigDaddy" my 107 year old friend and took him to Sunday service at Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF). 9:00AM meditation and then 10:00AM service. This is one of my favorite services in the Valley because I experience it so deeply and vibrantly, its as if the saints and sages are right there in the room with us; the devotion of the attendees is so palpable you can cut it with a butter knife. This is one of only 4 centers personally started by Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Yogananda was arguably the first to introduce yoga to the West. Kriya yoga, the specific branch of yoga he introduced, was intended to offer Westerners a specific series of practices to provide a direct experience of God.
Following the beautiful service, Bigdaddy offered to treat me to Sunday brunch. I was touched, and gratefully accepted. I drove us to True Foods, a newer, sheek, contemporary natural food eatery located at the Biltmore he never attended before. He was impressed by the clean contemporary decor, the professional efficient staff, and the healthy tasty selection. This restaurant is half owned by natural foods proponent Dr. Andrew Weil and the same restaurant chain that manages Bloom and Olive & Ivy.
I figured this restaurant visit would also inspire BigDaddy, who dreams of actually starting his own restaurant to realize fully his life's work integrating nutrition, healthy living, etc. after he completes several of the projects we are working on.
After ordering some healthy lemonade and pina colada-type drinks and Kale-avocado salad plus sashimi tuna salads, I discreetly gave one of Bernando's cards to the wait staff. She looked at his card, and could not believe his age - typical response.
After our delicious meal, the head chef personally came up to our table and introduced himself to Bernando. He also obliged Bernando's request to take a menu home for his personal inspiration.
When we requested the check we were both pleasantly surprised that they zeroed out the bill: their treat, compliments of their staff.
An Easter Blessing. We left a generous tip. Today I mailed them a complimentary book written by Bernando with a gracious thank you note.
On another note, Bernando and I also celebrated this Easter some more good news: his wife is now regaining her speech abilities. This was after several weeks of aphasia following brain surgery to remove a blood clot in her brain. This blood clot was caused by her fall, in which she hit the back of her head at a doctor's office when staff had placed her on a scale and then walked away.
Hope springs eternal. Give thanks for what you have and benefits shall come to you from unexpected sources.
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