[chef] encrypted databag question

[Maven User < >]

Hi all - 

In the example on the opscode wiki, http://wiki.opscode.com/display/chef/Encrypted+Data+Bags there's an example on how to point to a non-standard place for your secret file:

mysql_creds = Chef::EncryptedDataBagItem.load("passwords", "mysql", secret)


I'm struggling a bit with the "secret" in the above statement.  From what I can tell, that can be a path (string) to the place where the secret file is.  But for the life of me, I can't seem to get that to click.  I keep getting a "bad decrypt" stacktrace.

Is that supposed to be a path or the contents of the file?

Any suggestions?