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There comes a time in everyone’s life where the battle seems insurmountable. Life can throw some pretty difficult situations at us. Personally, there have been more than a few of these incidents that have thrown me for a loop. Very dark days, weeks, months, years have proven to be valuable lessons to be learned, not the least of which is the unbelievable reservoir of strength we don’t even know we have.

 

One of my first dream messages came from an especially dark time in my life. While I was ruminating about how I could get through it, a business trip to Iowa was the setting in which this revelation was to happen.

 

Lying on the hotel bed, trying to get some sleep, a tiny voice whispered… “Tell them three things…” At first I only caught 2 of them and then began to awaken. I pleaded to hear them again because I only remembered two. Struggling to reconnect with the message, I kept my eyes closed and waited to see if I could get a clearer grasp of what the three things were and it came to me very clearly. “Tell them 3 things…We’re doing everything we can to help you. Don’t be afraid. God loves you.”

I woke from this revelation not really comprehending what it meant…exactly. My first question was who are “We”? A question that, over the years, has given me pause… not exactly sure who “We” are but as I see it, there are a few options.

One would be Angels, who accompany us on our earthly journey. To me that seems like the obvious choice since we are well aware of Angel intercessions throughout history. Some may call it coincidence, although, as I’ve grown, I’ve come to believe there is no such thing. Most strange synchronicities happen for reasons beyond our understanding. As grounded Spirits, the ways of God can be incomprehensible to us.

A trip to NYC to see the Rockettes’ Christmas show is an example of how things happen for reasons beyond our understanding…

It was a church trip with many of the friends and colleagues I came to know and love during my tenure as the Confirmation Coordinator. My 10 year old daughter and I took the bus trip where we picked up other individuals at various spots along the way.

It didn’t start out well…looking back, it was an omen. It was a cold, rainy day and as we made our way down the highway, the windshield wiper on the driver’s side simply stopped working, causing us to lay over at a rest stop to wait for repair or another bus. It turned out to be a fortuitous stop, as I had decided to pick up an umbrella, which came in very handy.

Finally reaching our destination, we all got comfy in our seats to enjoy the show. Intermission came and I brought my daughter to the gifts counter where she picked out a cute, red robe with Rockettes dancers all over it, for a souvenir. We would get that robe, but not until after the show.

Needless to say, the show was a stunning celebration of all things Christmas. Once it ended and we all got up to leave, I asked one of my friends which way to turn once I got out the door. She simply said, “Left”. I thanked her and my daughter and I made our way to get the robe. After the purchase I went out the door and took a left but did not see our bus so I began to walk, holding my daughter’s hand and an umbrella. I didn’t realize it at the time, but turns out we went out the wrong door. The rain was pressing down on us with puddles to wade through and many people causing a living obstacle course. We walked for blocks. If you’ve ever been to NYC, you know how huge these blocks are. Finally coming across a familiar bus the driver told me we need to go back where we just had come from. My frustration was increasing and the weather was not helping. We sloshed through puddles with thousands of strangers all around and I had never felt so alone in my life. I kept telling my daughter that I had “plastic” and if we needed to stay overnight we will…trying to reassure myself as well as her.

After an immense struggle we finally found our bus and began running towards it. As we boarded I felt some very strange energy. There were more than a few passengers who were not happy with the delay I had caused. Funny thing is, another couple got on our bus right behind me. We were soaked to the skin and I was so grateful to have had the robe to put on my daughter for her comfort. As we made our way to the back of the bus the couple followed and sat behind us. I asked them if they got lost too and the lady flatly stated, “No, our bus left without us.” Instantly I realized why I got lost in NYC with my daughter on that miserable night. As the bus made its way home, I came to learn that the driver was being pressured to leave without us. There were a few tried and true friends who threatened to leave the bus if they chose to go without us…a true act of heroism on the part of my dear friends who thwarted the abandonment of a mother with a young child in the dead of night, in the rain, in NYC.

As I settled into the seat with my daughter I removed her wet clothes and replaced them with the warm, dry, cozy robe we had just purchased and she fell fast asleep.

Looking out at the darkness, I knew in my heart that we got lost to help the couple behind us but it certainly was a frightening and overwhelming experience. So I was questioning God as to why me and my daughter had to endure this…feeling so alone among a crowd of people, in the dark, dismal, pouring, cold rain of December. I have to say I was a bit upset that we had to go through that, so I questioned. Then clear as day, a message shot through me and a voice within said, “You are an instrument.” I understood at once.

As she slept, I held my daughter close as we traveled the miles home.

One of my dearest friends, who was one of the ones who threatened to leave the bus, is still very much a part of my life. She was the secretary at the rectory and I worked with the Religious Education Department. We spoke on occasion regarding work related matters and we both got along well. Anyway…two of her daughters married my two sons. We share five grandchildren and see each other often at parties and holidays.  

Now some would call all of this a coincidence but I have come to realize, there’s no such thing.