North Carolina Native "Daughter" Comes HOME!
by Ginny Lentz
The "spirit" of the Western North Carolina mountains called
me "home" in November of 1988 and again in January
of 1989. Both times I was on retreat from my left-brained, successful
career as a financial consultant-investment broker in Charleston, South
Carolina. These journeys were like "scavenger hunts",
gathering clues from Kanuga in Hendersonville, Lake Lure, Black Mountain
and Asheville. Prayer, meditation, work/play shops, my first sweat
lodge... one thing leading to another.
During
the "sweat" in January, the cord was severed from my
South Carolina security. By the end of January, I was "given"
the number 28711...the zip code for Black Mountain. So... THAT
would be my new home.
My son and I came
up Palm Sunday weekend and found a house to rent, with a small stream,
one block from Lake Tomahawk! All doors were opening wide for
our new beginnings. Shortly after we moved in, I flew to Oakland,
California for a workshop in Creation Spirituality. The day after
my return, I joined the Jubilee! Community for its first Sunday... outside
on Wall Street. What a discovery to see my sweat lodge friend, now
with his family, who had also moved to Asheville to make a new home. From
that day on, the Davises have remained my close friends.
My first jaunt around
Lake Tomahawk... was a real "deja vu". I went straight
home to my dream journal to find that I had been around that lake in one
of my dreams in early 1988. I had not known where that lake was;
however, my description of the lake with swimming, tennis, golf, beautiful
mountains in the distance... and being told by a policeman at the lake, that
I was there "too early" (It was before posted hours)... all
confirmed a year later, that I was in the right place. Guess my
calling to the N.C. mountains really began in my forgotten dream-time
before my physical journey began.
In
1988, I had a reunion with another friend from the sweat, Patte
Mitchell, who had also moved to Black Mountain...on Lake Tomahawk. She
also joined Jubilee! and we have continued our friendship over the years. In
1989-90, I took sabattical and enjoyed working on Earth Day: Asheville.
Later, I married
and "landed" a new career in real estate, later creating Blue
Ridge Realty of Greater Asheville... on $3000 borrowed from my son's
freshman tuition. My company's survival is a miracle in itself!
The
last 15 years have certainly had their ups and downs; however, I have
not doubt that I am in "my sacred place". My journey here
has been such a blessing and I have never looked back!
ginny@BlueRidgeRealty.com