I live on an island populated by drunks, drug addicts, and complete lust of money and women. Here you will find a bar and a church on nearly every block and all the tourist traffic to keep both in business.
Not that it matters but strangely enough it lies within the bermuda triangle. I have seen hundred's of thousands of faces pass through, served by myself, and i see the hypocracy of the american dream everyday as i make my errands.

One day, at the local festival held every night i met the most beautiful people i have ever seen. A circus family, born and raised in the spotlight, literally. From the day they walked into the world, it was performance, undeniable skill and talent. With no other way of income, and Cirque De Soleil quality(these people were actually a part of Cirque De Soleil among many other very famous and professional Circuses) they scrapped together a living out of a van, living show to show on the street or where ever they could, from the age of 3. Country to country they traveled, from Germany to the Netherlands, to Russia, South america, North america, and every which corner of the world inbetween they traveled learning language after language and defining their art to an impressive to say the least spectacle of human advancement.

Gypsies from a dimension unknown to the common man, one not even thought possible in the grind, ever. I have never seen people with such grace, perfect acuity, and finesse in all my days, and i am honored beyond my capacity to even see them, much less know them personally.

I do not lie when i say these things, i have always felt that many people do not reach my standards of striving for peace and humbility, I give the benefit of the doubt, and help others to not allow common stressors to affect their actions, i have always thought that the best way to approach the world is with a humble and discerning attitude, and until i saw the sheer excellence of these people i thought myself a truly "good person".

I was wrong. In all the forging of my spirit to reach my own personal standards, even as the person i am, i can see clearly now that i have missed the mark by a long shot.

In seeing this circus family in show, on the street, there are few who can compare, even of the professional caliber. Death is at play in almost all moments, there is no net, only cold, hard concrete, and i tell you now if a trick went wrong it would be one of the saddest days of my life.

The show defies the imagination, even though there is nothing more than defined skill and very satisfying comedy running amock. What breaks my heart is that i do know them personally, and i know that i would be lucky to reach a tenth of the spiritual development they have achieved. They know their bodies very well, they are in touch with an energy unknown to the common human, intense practice for years to define the art of one single trick, the concentration required, and the muscle memory of thousands of different combinations of balance at play.

And the truth of the matter is, they are nothing more than hard working, real people, highly developed physically, mentally, and above all spiritually. Cordial and respectful does not even touch the surface of how to describe their ways. It is absurd how far they will go to make certain they are causing no harm or inconveniencing anyone in any way.

And this is just their normal motis operandi. Insisting on paying parking fines, even if it was only in a very minute way their fault, they will not take no for an answer. Humanitarians beyond comparison, and complete compassion even to wounded animals, they take them in and heal them, and this is their way.

In their presence i am shocked, my eyes can see they are no ordinary humans, I would even go to the lengths to say that these people are quite literally "Touched by God" in a sense, awakened internally through their own will.

A very intelligent person said once "Know Thyself", and i can see that in the midst of these people that i do not. I do not know how to describe the conflicting feeling that well up inside me when i delve into the vibes these people put out, it banishes the shortcomings i have and instantaneously fills me with awe and hope of a new day when maybe i can be something far more defined than i currently am.

It brings me also to a state of sweet freedom, to know that in this world there are people like this, who accept others for who they are, not for what they can do, and above all else recognize, respect, and hold most important to themselves and others simple honesty.

They have called me friend and while i shudder at my own lack i cannot help but over-pour with joy in their company.

The loss of these Gypsy Circus Folk will be a very grievous day, an unprecedented loss for the Earth as a whole, I venture to say they stand within less than 1% of the entire worlds population that ever reaches such vast and growing potential without losing that fundamental human divinity.

If i could define my interpretations of what "spirituality" is, i would have to say the unrelenting actions of honesty, hard work, respect, personal development, and humility.

It has nothing to do with "God", "success", and most certainly not money.

Hi Zaus, this was an excellent read...Among all the chaos in our lives, some of us are fortunate to meet those, such as your friends...There are too many of us, who forget as human beings, what it's like to be humble...I believe that morals and values are instilled in us at an early age, and sometimes we have to be reminded of them, but many good people carry them through their entire lives...You are very fortunate to have become friends and obviously they taught alot, without even realizing they were doing it...