Have you ever been to the Bahamas? Well, I just came back from this beautiful paradise of palm trees and endless ocean. Come along with me as I share my island adventure with you.

Four of us arrived on a Saturday evening. We spent time in the sun under palm trees as the sound of the ocean waves rolled onto shore. Reggae and island music echoed out from a nearby open hut, making one feel the flavor of the islands.

On a tour of the island, we saw the contrast of opulent dwellings to simple huts. The smiles on the faces of the people glowed from their inner joy. They were the grassroots of this island. I asked our tour guide if they had many homeless. “No, we take care of our people here and house them,” he explained.

One day we took the $1 bus into downtown and visited the Straw Market. It was huge and very colorful with t-shirts, jewelry, towels, baskets mugs, glasses and so much more. It was called Straw Market because the women were still making straw baskets and purses etc. We watched several of them handstitching baskets and were fascinated to see how they were made. They make them all day long. This is their livelihood. Upon arriving back at the hotel that day, I noticed another smaller straw market right across the street. Hmmm I thought, I’ll have to check this one out, too.

The next day was Wednesday, my birthday, the first one I’ve ever missed being home for with my twin sister, Gloria. I called her to wish her a Happy Birthday later that night. Before I went anywhere that day, I said aloud with conviction, “This is my lucky day!”

Little did I know what lay before me...

While everyone else went to the beach, I headed over to the little straw market across the street. As I went up and down the rows, I got into light conversations with some of the vendors. I told some of them it was my birthday because I felt so happy to be there in this time and space. The last row had three vendors, all women. A gentle woman was selling jewelry and she told me that she had made them all by hand. They were all so beautiful. I glanced down the end of the row and saw a small woman reading something. I walked over and looked around. She asked me if there was anything I saw of interest. I commented to her that something special will be here for me as I continued to look. She then pulled something from behind the second shelf. I’d not seen this in any other booth. It was unique. A tan leather mask handmade from one piece of leather and formed to look like the island people. I loved it and bought it immediately. We talked for a couple of minutes and she told me her name was Patsy. I told her my name and then mentioned that it was my birthday. She then asked me if I wanted to pick out a refrigerator magnet to remind me of my time there. I sure did and together we chose just the right one. We talked for a couple more minutes. It seemed as if time stood still in Patsy’s little booth that day. Patsy then asked me if I believed in God. “Yes,” I said. She said she could tell that I did. Then she reached over to the table and picked up a small bible. It belonged to her young daughter Denniquam. I looked at the bible a couple of times as we talked. She told me that her daughter carried it with her all the time. This particular day Patsy decided to take it to the Straw Market with her. Then, Patsy told me that she would give the bible to me but it belonged to her daughter. I told her that I wouldn’t think of taking her daughter’s bible. We talked a bit more and I could feel a special bond growing between us. As I began to leave, she opened her arms and gave me the warmest embrace and said how good God is. Patsy glowed with love. I felt good in her presence. I went to the other end booth to look at t-shirts. I commented to the vendor that Patsy was such a beautiful person, so genuine. She commented that Patsy loves the Lord and prays and reads a lot. This woman’s name was Barbara and the woman who makes handmade jewelry is Shantell. They were sisters and were very close. They shared the last vendor row in this little intimate market. As I was purchasing some t-shirts from Barbara, Patsy slowly walked over. She said, “I’ve been guided to give you this bible.” I tried to refuse but she said the Lord spoke to her and told her that I was to have this little bible. She gently insisted I take it. I held it to me. I was stunned. She opened her arms to me and said a beautiful prayer to God, about how good God was in our lives. Patsy said, “God sent me to her and her to me” She told me to open the bible and draw wisdom from it. She said her daughter would understand.

“What better of a gift can you receive than a bible from a woman from the Bahamas? Happy Birthday!”

Then she walked back to her booth. Inside, inscription read, “To Denniquam from Daddy.”

I walked back to the hotel and joined the other three who were sunning under the palm trees. I told them about the bible and they all delighted in what a beautiful experience I’d just had.

For some reason I didn’t take any pictures of Patsy and me. I normally would have. It was almost like we were in an invisible egg surrounding us that day.

A beach chair was waiting for me as I joined my friends. There was a slight warm breeze, the sun was beaming down through the palm trees, the surf was lapping against the shore. Reggae music echoed out from an open hut. All was well in my world.

A tall, golden-skinned young man came by. He was selling coconuts. No one was buying. I called out “Hey, coconut man” and he turned around. I bought a coconut and he cut it up for us. We shared fresh coconut on the beach as part of my birthday celebration that day.

My mind wandered back to Patsy. I thought maybe I’ll get some pictures of her on Thursday. But I kept hearing “no” within me. So on Thursday, I didn’t go. I thought maybe this was just something to be experienced as it was.

Friday morning, we went swimming with the dolphins. They danced with us and even kissed us. Later at the beach I walked along the sand and gathered small seashells that had rolled up onto shore and placed them into a little plastic bag. A couple was building a sand castle and I commented to them how beautiful it was.

I wandered out to the ocean where the water was coming up onto shore. I felt a gentle urging to turn around. I did and saw nothing. Then I looked down and saw my footprints in the sand where I had just walked. They reminded me of the popular poem about footprints in the sand. I took a picture and wandered out into the ocean.

On Friday, I kept getting the urge to go back to the little straw market and see Patsy for the last time. When I got there, her sisters told me that she hadn’t come in that day. They said Patsy told them if she were never to see me again then it would have been an experience to keep in out hearts. That was exactly the same way I felt about it. They told me that they all attended church on Thursday night and the minister told them to spread God’s love wherever they are drawn to. Then he added, “even if you have to give your bible away.” Patsy’s mouth dropped when he said that. She said, “That was meant to be.” Patsy and I certainly shared an experience of the heart on my birthday.

Magic and miracles come to us when we are open to circumstances. The love you feel in life is a reflection of the love you feel in yourself.

I’ll be sending this article to Patsy in the Bahamas.

When you find the way
others will find you
passing by on the road
they will be drawn to your door
The way that cannot be heard
will be echoed in your voice
The way that cannot be seen
will be reflected in your eyes

Lao-tsu

Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. You can write her at gerri@phenomenews.com.