The Hidden Lantern

I had an endometriosis flare-up and stayed home from church. I was barely standing because of pain and I was in process of preparing potatoes for a breakfast hash so that I could take some pain meds when my phone chimed with a text from a dear friend, Stacy.

“Hey you, there’s something for you at The Hidden Lantern to pick up when you get a chance.”
The questions, What is The Hidden Lantern? Where is it? How do I find it? – alerted me to the sense of adventure taking place in my mind. Wherever the Hidden Lantern is, there is something awaiting me, and suddenly my spirit rise above my pain.

All Hail to Google because in minutes, I find that the Hidden Lantern is a bookstore in 30A, a small beach town community fifteen-minutes from me. I’m not surprised it’s a bookstore because Stacy is a book lover and she shares this passion by gifting me books and introducing me to new authors. Throughout all my relocations, Stacy sent me books. When I moved from southwest Florida to Atlanta, she sent me Glennon Melton’s book, Carry On Warrior.  When I moved from Atlanta to California, she introduced me to Rupi Kaur by sending me her first book, Milk, and Honey, and when I moved from California to Panama City Beach, she sent me Rupi’s second book, The Sun, And Her Flowers. I am amazed and grateful that the distance between us does not stifle Stacy’s ability to reach me.

After dinner that afternoon, my family joined me on the adventure rode with me to The Hidden Lantern. It is a book lovers haven. Upon entry, the marriage of the beach and new books saturates the mind and eyes scan the room and take note of the luxurious blue and white couches, the oversized armed chairs beckoning one to grab as many books as possible, cozy up and read for hours. The magic of bookstores is that they take us on own personal adventures: my children venture off to take books from shelves and be wowed by words laced together to create stories. My husband found his treasure and inspiration in the art gracing the walls, and I found the lady behind the desk. I tell her a friend sent me, and she smiled in recognition, reached behind her and picked up the something that is waiting for me at the Hidden Lantern. It’s a book, by a new author. Don Miquel Ruiz, the author of The Four Agreements A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom will join the other authors in my repertoire and his book will join the others on my bookshelf.

Stacy could not have known that I was home in pain. Her kindness was a light in my dark day. Spread some light!

Be Kind.
Kadine Christie