Entertaining Angels
Recently as I was driving from one appointment to another, I started dreaming about sitting down in front of a beautiful tomato accompanied with bufala mozzarella. This is hardly a seasonal desire. Tomatoes are disappointing and bufala, as far as I understand, is out of season.
Almost very last minute I heard to go to Trader Joe’s. It’s on the way. I did not have time to hesitate, so I took the next exit and did as was suggested.
I was not disappointed, as they had imported bufala from Italy waiting just for me.
That is why I thought I was at Trader Joe’s.
And the Universe had another reason. A gem, waiting for me in the parking lot.
As I made my way to my car, I noticed an older woman looking at me. I was focused on the task at hand, as I had an appointment to get to…I got in the car and she was now literally following me, attempting to engage me. She was asking for a ride. She lived just down the street, would I do her a favor and bring her home?
The comfort, love and familiarity was immediate. I did not hesitate. I opened the car door for her, helped her in and asked her her name. She spoke in a heavy, thick accent, her eyes a deep chocolate brown that I just wanted to crawl into. A beautiful Soul.
She liked my haircut (and I’d been thinking it was time for a cut). She asked me if I was born here (interesting question, given she did not know me). Yes, born here, but I am first generation American, raised by German immigrants. Did I somehow believe in God? She asked it with such genuineness and love. Yes, I said. I asked her where she was from. Where do you guess? Russia – far east in Russia. You are so smart! she said, yes!
By the time I got to her home, I felt like I knew this woman. (It was only about 3 or 4 minutes.) I stopped the car and I got choked up. She almost did not want to go; I almost did not want her to go… She reached out her hand to shake mine, I took her hand and brought it to my lips, tears emerging. I think we were both surprised. She kept saying bless you, bless you, you are so kind, not knowing she was blessing me just because she was there, in my car.
I looked at the clock – 1.11 – a portal. I did not have the luxury of actively leveraging the portal, but on some level I did something intentional, for as I drove off and turned the corner, the tears just poured. The portal sucked me in, and I saw that she had been my mother in a past life. That would explain the longing she held as I drove away, as she did not go into the building, but rather watched as I drove off. It explained my unusual response and magnetic pull to her.
Wow.
What a humbling experience it was.
Then I thought about all the pieces that the Universe orchestrated to get me to that parking lot at that time. My desire for some out of season luxury food, my listening to the Voice that Knows, my exiting the store when I did, the wind being so cold and cutting that a stranger would ask another stranger for a ride. ~ That can bring me to my knees in humility at the forces that work on my behalf – and yours.
Random? I think not. Awareness that there is more to it than merely giving someone a ride, takes it from Random and lifts it to Purposeful or Purpose Full.
I relish that encounter. Her name is Fira. Cool name – just like the woman, yet it does mean Fire.
Hebrews 13.2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (KJV)