“There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.” —Victor Hugo

Along a warm beach, the water sparkles at night, and not just from moon glow. Millions of tiny plants and animals called plankton light up. They flare like flames in the curl of the waves. Diving into the warm water is like diving into fire. Underwater, my hands push aside watery flames. Floating on the quiet blowing bosom, I can see myriad of stars shooting below me. As I splash through the fiery foam to crash back onto shore, my skin shines briefly, too.

I can’t make myself go back inside to bed, but sit on the beach hugging my sparkling knees and watching glowing combers wash onto shore. The incongruous harmony of fire and water blended into one creates a clear headedness that can’t find thought. My rational mind, exhausted, allows me to experience “now.”

An extraordinary, spontaneous moment such as this becomes a part of ourselves for the rest of our lives. We can call upon it in moments of doubt or fatigue, and it can  light our way.