Happy Easter

Sometimes, you just have to give credit where's it's due.

I'm not an overtly religious person.  I have faith and beliefs, but I don't wear them on my shirtsleeve for all to see.  I'm comfortable in my relationship with God, and don't understand the aversion some people feel when His name is mentioned conversationally.  Shhhh, they say, that's for church.

Nope.

I've led a sometime chaotic life.  I can think of 7 distinct instances where I should have reached the end of my road, but I didn't.  In fact not only did I NOT reach the end of my road, but I came away virtually unscathed.  I was being watched over.

As if that wasn't enough to cement my faith, there are little miracles daily.  What some would call coincidences, but I know better.  Because my beliefs tell me it's so.

If you have a conversation with your husband and tell him your favorite flower is a white rose, and then he brings you one, that's not coincidence is it?  Likewise, if you have a conversation with God mulling over options and possibilities and ways to solve challenges, and then the solution is handed to you, that's not a coincidence.

It's a little miracle.  A gift from One who loves you enough to listen.

And as with any relationship, sometimes in my haste I don't listen, and make a wrong turn.  But wrong turns don't end solid relationships, they merely strengthen them.  So I apologize for not listening, and receive a solution that will me put back on the right path.

I like that He is watching over me.  And I like the daily reminders that He is there by my side.  It's a solid relationship built on faith, trust, and love.  And forgiveness when I take those wrong turns.

Tomorrow is Easter.  I don't know how the holiest day on the Christian calendar became a day of bunnies, candy and egg hunts, but it doesn't matter to me how other people choose to celebrate the day.

I may even eat a chocolate bunny or two.

But before I do, I'll thank the One that watches over me for all of the little daily miracles He performs to keep me on the right path.

Paying Forward

In Southern California, it seems every street corner has  a bereft looking person holding a sign.  "Will work for food".  "Will work for rent".  Homeless Veteran need food".  Sadly, in the midst of legitimate suffering are those who actually prey on peoples' sensitive nature for a living.  They're easy to spot, after awhile.  They're the aggressive ones, the in-your-face-gimme-money kind.  Many of them look well fed.  There are no vacant gazes, no blind stares.  Every once in awhile I see one with a cell phone to his ear as he stands there wanting us to believe he's in need.

It took me awhile to figure out most of those people weren't really destitute.  They had fashioned a job out of begging.  Some of them probably make more money than I do at their chosen occupation.

Then there are the ones who truly are bereft. 

There was a man sitting outside my local 7-eleven the other day.  Just sitting.  Head leaning back, a small smile on his face, eyes closed, enjoying the sunshine on our first really warm day in ages.  A rusted bicycle was next to him.  There hung from the handlebars two bags.  One had clothing in it, the other held empty soda cans destined for the recycler.

He wasn't begging.  Wasn't disturbing anyone.  Just enjoying a fine day.  He  was ageless in the way that homeless people usually are.  Skin like leather from being in the sun all day, every day.  Sun-bleached blond hair hanging in his eyes.  Streaks of clean on his mostly dirty face, as if he had tried his best to make himself presentable.

I went into the store for whatever it was I was buying.  Can't remember.  Did some small calculations in my mind to think about what my little bank balance was.  And on a whim got $5 cash back when I paid with my debit card.

The look on his face when I handed him that $5 paid me back in triplicate.  He gave me the biggest, warmest, most sincere smile I had seen in awhile, stood up slowly, shook my hand, and said simply, "Thank you.  Many blessings to you".

We talked for a minute.  He was full of hope about a job that had been promised to him.  He insisted his current situation was only temporary.  I could see he was eager to find a use for his new-found wealth so I said goodbye and wished him well.

I got in my car and started it up to head home to the roof over my head and all of my accumulated "stuff".  He headed into 7-eleven for a hotdog.

Small things make us happy.  I think that's the best $5 I've spent in awhile.