SPARK Insights by Coach Reg - Issue #0005

It was our first full day in Maui, and the moment felt almost surreal. Standing on the beach, my family and I joined a small crowd of people quietly watching a baby whale—or perhaps a teenager whale—swimming peacefully just 200 yards offshore. For 20 minutes, we stood there in awe, captivated by the gentle movements of this majestic creature as it navigated the shallow bay.

The tranquility of the scene was almost otherworldly, as though time itself had slowed to honor the sacredness of the moment. It was one of those rare thin places—where the veil between the earthly and the divine felt almost transparent, connecting us deeply to the magic of nature and something greater than ourselves.

In This Issue

• Experiencing the Thin Places: Sacred Moments in Maui

• What Makes a Place “Thin”?

• Climbing the Mountain: Spiraling Upward Through Life’s Patterns

• What Did You Resolve To Do?

• Thin Place Opportunity: SPARK Vision Experience in Florida

Experiencing the Thin Places: Sacred Moments in Maui

The next day brought another encounter with the whales, this time aboard a Trilogy sailing trip. As we sailed through the deeper waters of the channel, we spotted several whales in the distance. The captain stopped the boat, and we watched, mesmerized, as these incredible beings moved closer. The cheers from everyone on board reflected the sheer joy and wonder of being in the presence of such magnificent creatures. These experiences weren’t planned; they simply unfolded, reminding us of the magic that can happen when we’re open to the moment.

Later in the trip, we embarked on a hike unlike anything we’ve done before. Scaling 67 stories of elevation over two-and-a-half miles, the journey was as challenging as it was breathtaking. The terrain was treacherous at times, slippery with dust and mud, but the rewards were extraordinary: waterfalls cascading down the mountainside, vistas that seemed to stretch into eternity, and the humbling realization of how small we are in the face of nature’s grandeur. At one point, we watched helicopters flying into the mountains, looking like mere insects against the vast scale of the peaks.

Another morning brought a moment of quiet beauty. I stepped outside early, coffee in hand, drawn by an unexplainable urge to be present with the day. And there it was: a full rainbow stretching across the mountains. The rising sun cast its light in such a way that the colors seemed to radiate pure magic. I texted my family to come outside and witness it with me, knowing this was a moment we’d never forget.

Our final adventure involved kayaking on the ocean. Over the course of three hours, we experienced multiple whale sightings, including two full breaches. As we prepared to head back to shore, two whales surfaced near us, raising their tails in unison before diving into the depths. It was a breathtaking encore to an already magical experience. And then, as if on cue, the wind picked up, bringing 30-mile-an-hour gusts that reminded us of nature’s raw power. It was humbling, awe-inspiring, and deeply sacred.