Unusual Mosquitos

These were not the usual mosquitos to greet me in the predawn hour. Every morning, unless it is raining, I am up and out the door with my coffee, my journal, and my many thoughts. When a mosquito or two come to join me, I wave them off with instruction to “go feed the birds.” They usually do.

But this particular morning was not usual. So many mosquitos came that I wrapped myself more tightly in my robe, covered my head, and sprayed repellent on my feet and legs. They hovered around me, touching down softly here and there, and rested! On my coffee cup! On my journal! Easy to kill, sitting like that, but I let them be. I did not run into the house for safety.

My meditation and quiet time that morning was focused on the question, “What can be fully seen now? What can I see when I look with my intuition?” That’s when the mosquitos arrived. That’s when I noticed them acting differently. They did not seem to be out for blood. They were content with my coffee and journal. What were they trying to show me? What could be seen in this moment?

I remembered, then, an ancient story about a man named Elisha – prophet, seer, psychic, follower of the Holy One of Israel. At that time, a king in what we now call Syria was at war with Israel. Time and time again, when this king prepared ambush attacks, somehow Elisha always knew, and warned Israeli leadership. Every single ambush failed. When the king accused his own people of treason, he was told that somehow Elisha knew what was said even in the king’s bedroom. The king immediately sent out horses, chariots, and a strong army to capture Elisha, surrounding the city where he was staying.

When Elisha’s servant looked out in the morning, all he could see was that army, far and wide. “What are we going to do?” he asked. Elisha simply said, “Don’t be afraid. The army with us is bigger than the army with them. And then he prayed, “Open his eyes, so he can see.” All around, encircling the enemy, the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire.

In that instant, with that memory, it seemed like this army of mosquitos was the army of the Sacred Wild, an army that often sends even the most stalwart inside for cover. You can read the rest of the Elisha story yourself. And let your own eyes be opened. What is there that can be seen? What are the eyes of your intuition ready to show you, even in these troubled times?