With everyone buzzing, the Professor decided it was time to leave his ‘stage’ and sat down next to Jonathan. He started to talk quietly.
“It came to us all at the right time, and just in time, Jono. There were energy shifts in the world. You could feel it. At the time, it frightened many people who had trouble tuning in to what was happening.
“There were all sorts of explanations, but nothing quite made sense. All I knew, my dear friend, was that ‘the times they were a-changing’. We were out of balance. We had stopped following how nature had organized things. But the mystical laws of the universe, as always, were in charge.
“I saw the same things, but in a different way. I realized the mystical laws were taking charge within me. I was able to let go of my attachments to the past. I found myself taking care of my actions. I had a sense that I was aligned and whole, and I knew that things would work out. I sensed the life force and the life field in everything, and in everyone. All around me I saw it happening to others. People were making wise choices, we were speaking wise words. We realized our energy is always active and creating matter and that we, each one of us, were creating world events. We saw how we breathe together and we are all part of the web of life.
“And it happened without having to talk about it, without having to work on it or look at and process our ‘stuff’. We stopped looking and stopped trying to tune into anything. All we had to do was realize we were already there.”
The Professor paused. He looked serene. “OK, my dear lad,” he said softly. “What a wonderful lunch, thank you. It’s time for a siesta. Tomorrow’s Monday so I’ve got to get some rest.”
He paid the bill with a pass of his token transfer chip and pushed his Panama hat back into shape. He had accidentally leant on it at some point in his speech. He made a small bow and with a flourish of his hat, said, “Fair thee well, all” and walked briskly out into the afternoon air.
There were a few comments of “Bye, Professor”, “See you soon,” “Wonderful seeing you, “Loved hearing what you said.” A small group at the back clapped as he left.
Jonathan smiled at the party atmosphere that the Professor had left behind. He finished the last of his beer and thought about all the things in his life that he took for granted which had been different 50 years ago. Privacy with communications and the Connect, the ease and safety of the money transfer system, honesty and transparency, how commerce and business had changed to open up wealth to more people and allow others more free time. Freedom of speech and optimism in the media. And happiness, human happiness. He felt truly grateful to be living in these times.
He looked down at the table and realized the bowl of nibbles was still full.