I must have been in Chefchaouen, Morocco for over a week when I woke up with a hunger that came from deep within my being. The hunger consumed me. I could think of nothing else.

   I quickly dressed and went down to the café down the street from my hotel, where I had been going daily to eat, sit, think. I ordered plate after plate of food yet my hunger was unabated. Deep down, I knew this was not the nourishment I needed. I felt like I was about to come face to face with an answer to my dilemma, but what?  

   As I was paying up and starting my daily walk around the small town, the muezzin started his beautiful call to prayer. The hypnotic melody, the hot noon sun, and maybe even something I ate, all had an effect on me. I felt as if I was in a dream. The streets were deserted, except for a few stray dogs.

   I walked to the outskirts of town when I saw a Sufi sitting in an alley way near a door with his hand stretched out.  Without thinking, I walked towards him and thought I would give him a few coins. To my surprise, he was not begging for anything, but rather had a key in his hand.  I suddenly found myself in a very different situation than I thought when I first walked into this alley.

   Thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams, all flew threw my mind within seconds. I wanted to grab the key, but I had reservations. I am not of the Muslim tradition, will they accept me? What am I getting myself into? What if this is not what I think it is?

Just then, the Sufi spoke without lifting his head :

“Brother, if you have doubts, if you think of yourself as a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew or what have you, go back and finish your path. People from all paths are welcome here when they are ready to throw away their outer clothing.

There are many ways that can lead you here. Just be true to yourself, and take care because the closer you are to truth the more dangerous things get. Do not take this lightly.