It has been a remarkable lesson in listening to God’s
timing. You may call it coincidence. But I simply can’t find anything at all in
that. Random bodies happening on each other at elevators just because. How is any
single thing in life served in that? But think of all the hope and meaning
found and served in purposeful timing. What if for a single moment we
took time to actually be in the very moment we were actually in. Headphones
out, eyes open, walking forward with head up, listening for a single moment to
what is going on around you for an opportunity to engage in something meaningful.
What
if you walked up to a counter with the sole purpose on engaging with
the person on the other side of the 2 foot expanse? What if we
did this every single day?
I first need to tell you that very recently I did the very
opposite. Very soon after my grocery encounter with Lead Plastic Surgeon (see 2
posts ago) I went out for a full day of errands. My first stop was at a local
home store where I was seeking out a specific gift. I came across a lady in the
store whom I knew from my past, but I definitely couldn’t place. Admittedly,
and maybe because of the recent surgeon encounter but more so because I couldn’t
quite place her and I was skittish in that, I went about my shopping with no
attempt to figure things out further. Mission accomplished, item purchased.
Head to the car, and I drove to the big box store on my list several blocks
away. Park my car, walk inside, grab a cart, and make my way to the household section
where I find exactly what I need in what feels like record time. Mental
high-five and I reached down to put it in my cart then I look up and there coming
towards me pushing a cart full of poinsettias was the exact same Lady in the Christmas
Red Jacket from the previous store. I literally startled in the moment, grabbed
my cart and bolted in the other direction, then parked myself two aisles over
for a moment thinking “Ok God. I know this is crazy that we would both be in
the same store a SECOND time, but you and your timing are evident, however I
simply can’t do the ‘hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?’ right now because I
was still shaken up a little from the previous encounter.” Even though it felt strange in acknowledging
that openly and still walking away, I headed over to the checkout, loaded up my
items, and off I went to THE grocery store for my final stop of the day. My
entire drive over I was thinking to myself, stupid sally, but still knowing I
just couldn’t do it today and I was also worked up going to the grocery store.
I parked my car and was feeling a little weary as I was
heading back to the very place where my encounter with the surgeon had happened
the week before, but I was on my A (ok, my B) game and I totally had this ready
to head in/head out after grabbing just a few items needed for the week. I was
walking up to the front of the store and past the glass windows when all
of a sudden “knock, knock, knock”……I am think you have got to be kidding me!!! If
I look up at that window and see my breast surgeon I am going to crawl back in
my car and will live off of chips and fanta from the gas station the rest of my
life. You have never seen someone so grateful to look up and see their next
door neighbors and their smiling faces staring back. Hugs, catching up, hugs,
and off I go in search of the few items I need, trying to be as quick as
possible to get back home. Finally I am done with the super short list, and I’m
off to grab my last item in the freezer section when I open the freezer door
and am so embarrassed to have bumped the freezer door into the cart that has just
pulled up next to me.
“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry….”
The exact same Christmas Red Jacket I had been running from
at the 2 previous stores. “No problem at all” as she grabs the exact same
sausage I just did and off she goes.
Now at that very moment I think to myself, “Ok, God, I get
it.”
I’ve been kicking myself ever since. I simply was in a funk
that day and didn’t want the encounter, but I had been coming out of 3 very “in
your face”, “Trust God’s Timing” moments, and I knew that I could put my faith
in whatever and whomever he put in my path. Timing was very much on my radar,
and I now had a 4th encounter that I can’t even tell you what the
outcome was to be, other than my disobedience. But as I had not yet put my 3rd
encounter to paper (screen), this 4th encounter very much plays a
role in just how much God is getting my attention in how timing is not haphazard.
We can choose to see it His way, or we can choose to see it our way. It’s
complete choice. But the ramification of choice are evident in many ways.
Sales clerk: “Hello, welcome to
Sequins (as we will call). Did you find everything you were looking for?”
Myself: “Yes, thank you.”
Sales clerk: “This color is going
to look terrific on you with your hair color.”
I find that she is studying my face
a little longer than usual as she is folding up the garment.
Sales clerk: “I’m sorry for
staring. I think I know you from somewhere. Have we met before?”
Myself: “I don’t think so, but
maybe…”
(Immediately, I’m in tune because, well…this
is not my first time to this rodeo)
Myself: “No, I go to such and such.”
Myself: “No, Haven’t been there. I
work at ___. Do you go there?”
Myself: “No, but did you happen to
know, Andy M.? He’s my brother.”
Her eyes got as wide as saucers, and I could tell the life
was sucked out of her and she didn’t exactly know how to respond. It was as if
she wanted to climb into the bag into which she was now placing the shirt I had
just purchased and never come out again.
Sales Clerk: “Oh ma’am, I am so
sorry. I didn’t know him very well, but I knew him enough to know that I am so
sorry I brought all of this up and I guess I am recognizing you from all the
pictures on social media from his story.”
She was terribly mortified she had brought this up, and I
could tell immediately I had two choices here. I could feel the heartbreak I
was feeling in that one moment of suddenly remembering my brother, or I could
have this moment to have grace and mercy with this women who loosely knew my
brother, was impacted by his story, is now mortified at recognizing me, and so
very worried she has ruined my day.
Myself: “I could not be more
delighted to meet you. I am Sally. I can’t tell you what it means to me to have
this connection with you now (truth). Thank you for speaking up when you
recognized me.”
And we finished up with our stuff, discussed a few more
things, and I headed out to finish out my day.
As I climbed back in my car I sat for a few minutes staring
at the windshield. This was the first time in 2 years I had come across someone
in public who knew my brother, but didn’t also know me. I knew it would happen
at some point. The awkward moment of “you know the story, I know the story, but
we don’t know each other” I never knew how that would play out, but I knew it
would have an impact on me and it did. And it would also bond us. It did. You know
in a way that knowledge of a deep rooted story, trauma, loss, love, success,
whatever. Those things bond you. But knowledge of those on great levels, can
really bond you.
I now very much love walking into this store and seeing
Rebecca. We are casual when we see each other. I don’t even know if she recalls
me being “that story” or whatnot because I haven’t brought it back up (I’ve
only seen her twice since and very briefly). But Rebecca on the other hand is
grounded in my soul and a story in my healing. I don’t know if she listened to
God’s prompting in saying “hey, I think I know you” but I do know it was God’s
timing in placing us just so.
And I am acutely aware that there were 3 encounters with a
very specific red jacket that I knowingly (and rather disobediently in my awareness)
passed by last week. What if I was to be grounded
in her soul? What if she needed healing? What if God
simply needed me to obey? What if?
Take off the headphones. Look at your surroundings. Be purposeful
in your listening and be present in your environment. We are not haphazard
marbles bumping into each other by happenstance. We are God’s purposeful
encounters waiting to unfold by him placing us exactly so and us choosing to
play out what if. Who needs you to do
your part? Who needs you to choose to be present? Who needs you to make
yourself aware that you have a part in all of this? Simply ask yourself “What
if” and just see all the possibilities of where that can go.
You can access previous posts HERE.
You can access previous posts HERE.
