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Joan Beisel, John Morton, Brenda Fishbaugh, and Carolyn Sachs<\/strong><\/p>\n I accompanied John Morton at the Parliament of the World\u2019s Religions in 1999. My mother was Italian, and she would often say, \u201cVedi Napoli e poi muori!\u201d, which means, \u201cSee Naples and then die\u201d. The idea was that seeing Naples is so fulfilling, that one has had a complete life after having been to Naples. I never really understood the saying, until attending the Parliament of World Religions with John Morton and Vincent DuPont. As part of our trip, we rode a cable car to Table Mountain, far atop Cape Town in South Africa. When John Morton called in the Light on the top of Table Mountain, I did have a powerful experience that my life was complete and I could die. To be more precise, I felt that a part of me died and I was a completely different person, in a whole new chapter of my life.<\/p>\n Below are my notes from that magical time. I notice in my article that I didn\u2019t even mention that we attended Nelson Mandela\u2019s speech at the Parliament of World Religions! Of course, it was amazing to be close to \u201cMadiba\u201d (an affectionate and respectful name used for Nelson Mandela), especially after having seen Robben Island and his tiny prison cell there, where he was incarcerated for so many years. The lights were kept down while he spoke, as his vision was ruined from the unrelenting sun on Robben island. The Dalai Lama was also present, although I did not see him.<\/p>\n December 3<\/strong><\/p>\n I am so excited to be in Capetown! I saw the ad in the NDH for John\u2019s visit to Africa and KNEW I had to be here. I didn\u2019t see how it could happen, but I leaned into it and it all happened with amazing grace and ease.<\/p>\n John, Vincent Dupont and David Morton arrived yesterday. They invited me to dinner tonight at the Cape Grace Hotel.<\/p>\n What an amazing night. Monica Willard and Deborah Moldow from the World Peace Prayer Society joined us. Monica and Deborah have been working with Carolyn Sachs (MSIA South Africa rep) to put together the Peace Pole dedication at Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned). They aren\u2019t familiar with MSIA, but quickly picked up on the Traveler\u2019s peace. We all connected so easily and had such a sense of intimacy together. John\u2019s magic in full gear.<\/p>\n December 4<\/strong><\/p>\n John, Vincent, Carolyn, David and I attended Yogi Bhajan\u2019s workshop today. Yogi Bhajan is the Master of Kundalini Yoga. He was quite a character and had great simple techniques for removing negativity, increasing happiness and creating more life-force. I really had fun watching other devotees with their master. Yogi Bhajan scolded his sound crew every two minutes\u2014it was just like J-R at Conference.<\/p>\n John did a presentation on MSIA at the Parliament of World Religions. We had a small but very interested group. The Parliament is a great forum for our church and John seems very well received. After John\u2019s presentation, we walked outside\u2014a beautiful day with Table Mountain behind us. John put his arms around Joan Beisel (MSIA New York rep who was at the Parliament with United Youth International), Carolyn Sachs and me and then conducted a Moment of Peace. An incredible experience to be touching John when he is wearing his Traveler Mantle. It was a very special moment.<\/p>\n December 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Up before dawn to catch the two ferry boats to Robben Island for the Peace Pole dedication. Carolyn did a remarkable job making this happen\u2014300 people of every faith and the flags of all nations. Ahmed Kathrada, a former prisoner of Robben Island, stood beside John his entire speech and held the South African flag. It was really beautiful. John was so moved by the energy that he was almost in tears. His voice broke a couple of times, but made his words even more impactful. There wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the house when the ceremony was over.<\/p>\n After the Peace Pole ceremony, John and I toured the prison and saw Nelson Mandela\u2019s cell in solitary confinement. The cells were so small and the conditions must have been horrible. A good place for a Light Column!<\/p>\n December 6<\/strong><\/p>\n John and Vincent attended Parliament Assembly meetings today. When John realized he wasn\u2019t going to be able to facilitate his Parliament workshop on Forgiveness, he asked David Morton and me to handle it. It was the most Spirit-filled thing that I\u2019ve ever done. Spirit just charged David and me\u2014we were so full of grace. The workshop went incredibly well. Standing in for John Morton\u2014now, there are some shoes to fill!<\/p>\n My three and half days with the Traveler in Africa were the best of my life, absolutely the most amazing time. John is a walking miracle. I\u2019m so blessed to have been in South Africa to experience it.<\/p>\n This article was published in the September | October 2015<\/strong> edition of the New Day Herald Online Magazine, available via ISSUU<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Browse the magazine below by using right and left arrows. Simply click a page to read the full article.<\/p>\n
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