Moving a Cloud

Years ago I was in Hawaii contemplating human capacity and, in particular, my own.

I believe we’re each born with unique talent, skill, intelligence, perception, and Grace that seeks to manifest in our life. Each life is a cosmic adventure for uncovering and achieving the full potential of our soul’s promise. Along the way, some realize the full promise of life and others succeed in varying degrees.

On that beautiful day on Maui, large, puffy clouds dotted the vast blue sky. As I lie there, I wondered, what would take for me to move a cloud? Could I move it simply by willing it? In my spiritual and business life, I’ve experienced the relationship between willful intent and results. I fully agree with spiritualists like Wayne Dyer who suggest that if we want something deeply, focus on it intently and believe in its inevitability, we can literally cause that future to occur. And capable people who continually underachieve or fail in life are perhaps missing that life lesson.

So on that day in Maui, it occurred to me that both the cloud and I shared stuff in common: we were made of the same matter, we were both a manifestation of the cosmic Creator, and feeling quite capable and powerful in many aspects of life, I thought…could I move this cloud? Could I use the might of my own willful intent to cause the cloud to move from one part of the sky to another?

So I concentrated on it. I really set out to move the large clump of water vapor through sheer will. And the cloud felt so heavy…heavier than anything I’d ever felt before. And as I directed all my willful intent and focus on it, that cloud felt like lifting an ocean liner.

And on that beach, on that day, facing that beautiful blue sky, all my heartfelt willpower humbly bowed to the magnificence of that puffy cloud. And despite my powerful, soulful and willful intent, that puffy cloud moved not. And I simply gave up and realized the cloud was larger than my capacity at that moment. At that moment.

Was I disappointed? Actually, I felt that with practice, I could do it. Over time, I would eventually get the hang of it. Why not?

So how does my cloud experience map to life? Well, those who know me know that I say everything is possible for any individual who applies powerful focus, strong belief, hard work, perserverance and surety. I still believe it.

Sri Chinmoy lifted weights to prove the unlimited potential of the human spirit. He started by hoisting just 40 pounds and eventually was able to lift hundreds and then thousands of pounds by channeling the strength of the divine. Along the way, as he sought to transcend, he often failed, but then after repeated attempts, he was able to conquer each weight class.

So next time I visit Maui in December, you might see a tall guy with a baseball hat and sunglasses over at Ka'anapali Beach, practicing the art of moving a cloud.