Opportunity of a Lifetime with God in Human Form

It was a day before my twentieth birthday and all I could think about was jumping onto a plane for the first time, along with friends. But the moment we were all awaiting was our arrival in Prashanthi Nilayam, The Abode of Peace. Being a Sai devotee its something you always dream about. What more could you ask for than the physical presence of the one you call God? For the next month we would live in such close proximity to Sathya Sai Baba. It was December and Christmas preparations would gather momentum from now. At dawn we entered a place of immense beauty and full of positive vibrations. The love you felt could not be explained.
As we settled into the Ashram life a new task awaited us and the excitement began to take over. As a country we would be responsible for decorating the Ashram. The Christmas shed was to be our home while preparing the colorful and splendid decor. Various colors, glitter and tinsel, huge posters and model figures, everything you could think of to create a Christmas atmosphere. It was the first time that I would see him and I just couldn't wait. As the afternoon fast approached we all rushed to get ready and got in line for a glance of this God in human form. We sat and patiently waited his arrival as the service started. In he came a little while later. No words can explain what happens when you have a chance to see this spectacular site. It was as if the world became still and his piercing eyes were on every single one of us. This was something we would experience everyday, for the next month.
Finally we got the go ahead and the madness began. With teams all over the place. The team I was part off was were tasked with the balcony area right across from Swami's house. As the night drew on we began to see our work take shape. Lights of all colours, banner's, and even a nativity scene.
We reached the early hours of the morning and began helping other teams round up.
He was like a child. So enchanted by the decor that it brought tears to our eyes. He kept looking up at the tinsel and looking around the hall. Surely he was pleased. Nothing could make us more happy.
Our pilgrimage was coming to an end and none of us wanted to leave but our hearts were filled with immense love.
As we packed our bags and said our goodbyes we knew it was not the end of all things. It was only the beginning of long lasting friendships and of a spiritually charged life that was only beginning.