When the currency of exchange is love the quality of the transaction need not be scrutinized too closely. For when love is the medium, love is immutably, and definitively the quality of the transaction. Such was the quality of Nimo’s performance, or rather our performance at Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids. Nimo’s dynamism served as the stage for a community of people to renew their familial vows as part of a wider human family. Audience members shared their feelings of gratitude, thanked Nimo for turning the light back on self-love, and for sharing himself with us. From songs of kindness to stories of selflessness, the crowd in Grand Rapids that night was able to share in a surge of positivity and gratitude together. Through my slightly removed gaze, the whole night was the product of serendipity. Great venue, great community, great audio equipment, great timing. While good things seem to come into fruition in an organic manner, this by no means precludes planning and initiative. And for this great night, the thanks could be strongly attributed to Suneem Ji of Mother’s Trust Ashram in nearby Ganges, MI.

It was Suneem Ji and members of the interfaith community at Mother’s Trust that pulled the strings, set the venue, and garnered the support to bring Nimo out to Grand Rapids. Suneem Ji explained how Nimo’s music and message compelled him to turn this performance from a vision to a reality. After the performance, Suneem Ji, a burly, solemn man with a wry smile and self-proclaimed penchant for speeding down the local expressways (speedily) led Nimo and my family to Mother’s Trust Ashram. The ashram is part of a larger interfaith community, one that has nurtured spirituality for the several decades.

We were lucky enough to spend a night at the beautiful, austere ashram. The next morning, adorned in vibrant yellow robes and blessed with a deep, rich timbre, Suneem Ji guided us in a meditation and chanting, allowing for the messages of gratitude and kindness to sink deeper into our spirits. Serenity coupled with awareness. This spirit permeated the entire grounds of the ashram. Though Nimo was set to share his music with the ashram community later that day, we still had a few more hours to spend together.

Granted the additional time, we all went to the nearby Swami Vivekananda Monastery, a stunning structure in tribute and service of the messages and life of Swami Vivekananda. Though our time was limited, the gravity of exploring such a sanctuary was not lost on us. And in a seemingly final stroke of fate, Nimo and the family were able to share a meal with Babaji, the man responsible for the construction of the monastery, and a leader of the interfaith community in Ganges for the past 40 years. Through stories of his maturation from childhood to the taking of his monastic vows to his current role in the Ganges community, Babaji kept us gripped through our meal, while robbing himself of a chance to enjoy his own lunch. Yet, this was no problem a carryout box couldn’t fix, and Babaji was glad to share of himself, and we were certainly glad to receive. Alas, in interest of Nimo’s imminent performance and the inclement weather (read: tempestuous hail storm), we returned to our cars, bellies full, and hearts fuller with gratitude and love.