MY GOD IS LOVING AND GENTLE
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After thirty years in the city, I finally left Los Angeles in 2002 and moved to Palm Springs. I loved the energy of the desert and the quiet surrounding of the mountains that were was so peaceful and serene. It was a new life and the air was clean. The only highway to civilization ran through the middle of the basin and nothing but two-lane roads etched in the sand connected the patches of houses and newly developed communities throughout the valley.
I kept my job and commuted back and forth for several months while I looked for work locally. My mustang convertible enjoyed the open road and it was my thinking time. I had my repertoire of music to get me through, some CDs to pump me up in the morning, others to chill me out on the way home.
I had only been living in the desert a couple months when driving home one night I experienced my first sand storm. The wind had become very strong and I learned later that wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour were reported that night. I got off the freeway at my turnoff and started on the two-mile stretch home. The wind grew fierce as I made my way into the desert. My visibility became less and less and I couldn’t see in front of me nor could I see the cars coming in the opposite direction. I was now only driving about 10 mph, too afraid to pull over for fear of being buried alive or hit from behind. I couldn’t tell if I was driving straight or if I was even still on the road. The wind was howling so loud I couldn’t hear anything else. The sand swirled all around me and I could feel it coming in through the windows and the creases in my top. I was shaking and began to cry. All I could do was keep moving. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and screamed in a rage at the top of my lungs, “I could use some ——–help here!!
All of a sudden, silence. The wind stopped and the road completely cleared in front of me. I could see all around me. It was like it never happened! Still shaking uncontrollably, I made my way home. I had just experienced my first sand storm.
Though I didn’t grow up with this God, the God of my understanding is a loving and gentle God. One more time I was shown how loving and patient my God is. No matter how upset or impatient or even irreverent I may be, I am constantly being shown how much I am loved. No matter how afraid I may be, I will always be taken care of. The solution or answer may not come when I want it or when I think I need it, and it’s never in my time. But it’s always on time!
Now, any time I become consumed by fear or simply upset about a situation, I think of that night in the desert. I don’t believe it was a coincidence. I believe I was being told, one more time, that I am never really alone and I will always be taken care of no matter what. Everything is going to be ok. My only job is to trust, have faith and ask for what I need. I have to ask myself, “why did I wait so long before I asked for help?” Thank you God for loving me.
Cheryl Johnson, Radio Talk Show Host “From Maui With Aloha”
GODincidences
I was going through a difficult time in my life and recently asked my friend Lisa for a CD on How to Pray the Rosary. Something interesting happened that night. When I opened my eyes in bed, I noticed dark shadows on the wall and told my friend Joanne about it the next day at lunch. She gave me her rosary beads from Jerusalem and suggested I pray the rosary. She also told me she would get me a crucifix.
The next week I went to church and prayed the rosary. Something powerful happened and I knew God was touching my heart deeply. I felt so peaceful after I prayed. I asked God for a sign before I left the church. As I walked to my car, I spotted a royal blue pouch with rosaries beads in it in front of my car door. They were gorgeous rosary beads with a locket and a picture of 2 little boys. I knew someone had lost the beads and I wanted to find the owner. I left a note in the church with my telephone number. A few people called who had lost beads, but they weren’t the beads that I found.
I received a call on Christmas Eve and the woman described them perfectly to me. I returned them to her all wrapped up with a bow. She told me she had no idea how they got in front of my car. She was elated that the beads were found and sent me a package to thank me for returning the beads. Inside the package were some prayer cards and the CD I wanted on How to pray the rosary. There is no way she could have known that I asked my friend for the CD the week before.
On New Year’s day I received a call from a woman named Kelly asking me about the rosary beads. I told her that the beads were with their owner. She sounded so sick on the phone that I asked her,“Are you drinking tea and eating chicken soup”? She said, I’m drinking tea, but I don’t cook, I’m eating Kust Progresso canned soup.” I decided to make her a pot of chicken soup and delivered it to her home. She was so appreciative and gave me a gift. She said, “I know I am supposed to give you this.” I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the box. In it was a beautiful crucifix (that my friend Joanne said she was going to give to me).
Something deeply profound has happened in my life and I am so grateful to God for hearing my prayers and healing me. My eyes are opened and miracles are happening all around me. All I had to do was ask and be willing to receive. In Pat’s book, Simply a Woman of Faith, she calls them GODincidences. And so do I.
Lana Drew
GIFT FROM THE UNIVERSE
While reading Pat’s book, I had just finished the pages about how Pat would hear the
song “Honey” when she was going through a difficult time and needed to be comforted.
At that point, I stopped and asked the Universe for help to live in faith and not fear
because I had been struggling with my financial situation. I asked for some kind of sign.
I walked to the window and looked out toward the ocean expecting to see a rainbow,
which I usually take as a sign of comfort from my Aunt Marion who passed away 15
years ago.
Having seen nothing, I sat back down and resumed reading Pat’s book. I was now at the part of the book where Pat and her husband were deciding the name of their Christian bookstore and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the name they had chosen, The Alleluia Shop. My mother, who died 5 years ago, was named Alleluia. There was my sign.
I started to sob uncontrollably and knew I had to call Pat. I needed to talk with her and share about my mother and her death, which I had not fully grieved. I didn’t realize how much I had been holding in until the gut-wrenching tears were flowing. As I was sobbing, the phone rang and on the other end was Pat. How did she know to call at that very moment? It was just the day before that she met my partner Cheryl (Pat explained to me afterward that she was calling Cheryl just to say thank you for a wonderful visit.)
I feel so free and was able to fully let go of the anger and resentment about my mother’s alcoholism and how it had affected my life. I was finally able to grieve the loss of her passing. It was a powerful moment and I can’t believe how good I feel now.
As Pat listened to my story, I could feel her love through the phone lines. I felt so renewed and I thank her for the “God Shot.” It was not only a gift from the Universe but a reminder of how we are all connected and there are no coincidences. As Pat says in her book, it’s GODincidences. I am extremely grateful to Pat for writing “Simply a Woman of Faith” and her phone call at the perfect and right time.
Stephanie Roderick, Hawaii
A MESSAGE FROM MY MOM FROM HALLMARK
I needed to hear my mom’s advice so desperately I could taste my own confusion.
Should I quit? Will it ever really matter? What do I do?
I took a break from my writing, wondering if perhaps if I walked away from the project, it would just run away from me. Before she passed away, Mom made me promise her I would finish writing my book. Keeping the promise, however, seemed to suddenly have more obstacles than an Olympic hurdling course. Wasn’t this the meaning of the message?
Cleaning out the remains of my parent’s things in the house is always a readily available task constantly needing to be completed. The cellar has become my cathartic center for distraction, as I dig through the endless supply of items to be sorted. Keep, give away, throw away, or just hold for a future decision.
I wanted an immediate answer. It was so easy when I could just pick up the phone and ask her what to do. She always knew exactly what to say, in precisely the most loving way. I felt lost, alone, and I’d say a bit depressed without her. Mom was my very best friend.
As I continued my archeological dig through the boxes, I noticed a single card slipping through my grasp. “What is this?” I picked up the card, not remembering the moment or circumstance of its original intent, but my eyes were wide when I read the message.
“Deborah, finish your book. It’s going to help a lot of people. They’re waiting for you.” Love, Mom
Wow! It was as if she was right there speaking to me! I could hear her voice in my mind’s eye. Her handwriting so beautiful, so unique, so mom, it lit my spirit into flames of joy.
I needed an answer, a message of encouragement, a comfort to continue my quest for a purposeful future. Who could have anticipated my answer for today would appear in a card of yesterday. Mom’s love is alive and well, and her Hallmark card from heaven remains a fresh reminder that faith, hope, and love, never ever die.
Thank you God for the gift of my mom.
Deb Scott, The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside world right side up
BUTTERFLIES
While considering a blog name, I wanted to encompass a sense of community. It was never easy for me to come up with a name of a title for any project or writing experience until the end. Can you really best define something until it’s finished? How do I say what I want to get across or give people a feel of all I plan to offer or be for my blog, business or community in just a name? I finally surrendered to Community Gatherings as name for a web blog.
Community Gatherings is an unattended web blog with one picture of my husband I used to test it the day it was created. I knew the content had to be community- minded, seeing as I am a great connecter, but never was able to get past the title of the web blog. So there it sat out in cyber space with no community ever seeing it.
Sitting in a Constant Contact workshop in Rhode Island listening to the presenter explain why social networking is so important for business, I think about my lonely weblog out in space with no social activity at all. It then hits me…The Social Butterfly! A childhood memory of being defined as a social butterfly pops into my head. I think that’s it, that’s the name for my blog and I’ll use community gatherings in the tagline somewhere!
I met Pat Hastings at a workshop I attended on Dreams a few weeks prior to this workshop. She walked up to my girlfriend & I to say hello and to my amazement her pants were covered with no less than 100 butterflies! Of course I begin to rattle off the events that lead to this moment of synchronicity. I have since purchased thesocialbutterfly.us and added a tagline: community gathering to transform your mind, body & soul. Perhaps this article will be my first submission. It is in this way I use the Universe to provide me with my next steps towards fulfilling my ultimate destiny.
Colleen Millett
PERFECT ALIGNMENT
After much consideration, I decided that I would approach this differently. I had recently made the decision to have my piano tuned. It had been moved out of our house during renovations and back in after the completion. It needed a tuning before I could resume my music studies. I was unable to locate the piano tuner that I used in the past, and was attempting to make connections with a tuner that was recommended by the local music store to no avail. We were playing phone tag trying to find a time that would fit both schedules. This turned into weeks of missing each other. I finally reached a point of asking myself “what is it that I really want”? And my answer came “I wanted the piano tuner that had previously done the tuning.” The problem was I didn’t even remember his name. So, I put a request out, “Universe please help me find this man.” I then let it go. Two weeks later Richard called and began his conversation with “hello my name is Richard and I tuned your piano in the past.” I answered, “I have been waiting for your call.”
The second part of this story involves my piano teacher. My previous teacher was no longer teaching. Furthermore, I wanted to work with someone who taught not only technique, but also music theory. After searching the Internet, I found a teacher who lived two blocks from my home. I called the music studio and spoke with his wife. After explaining what I was interested in, she assured me that her husband would get back to me. A week passed and I did not hear from him. I then quickly made a decision to once again make a request, “Universe please bring the right teacher my way.” A few days later, I was speaking with a dear friend and in passing I said, “Do you know of any good piano teachers?” She did know of one and gave me his name and number.
My new teacher is a perfect fit. His method of teaching is everything I was looking for and more. Additionally, at my first visit, I noticed that he was using a Mac computer. “Oh”, I said, “a fellow Mac user.” He got all excited, “do you know Macs?” “Yes, it’s the type of computer I use when teaching my students.” His next question floored me, “would you like to exchange piano lessons for computer lessons?” So now, I have a perfectly tuned piano, the perfect music teacher, an opportunity to do what I love in exchange for lessons and a grateful heart. All is in perfect alignment and I am blessed.
TM
EVIDENCE OF GOD’S LOVE
One day I looked at the dark, clunky, old bureau in my bedroom, and thought about
how nice it would be to have a bureau that fit the space and lifted my
spirits. I imagined a light-yellow, tall, thin bureau and then forgot about it.
Two days later I turned onto the main road by my house, and there was a
tall, thin, light-yellow bureau, sitting in front of a tiny building with an
“Estate Sale” sign on it! I was so shocked I drove right by, half thinking
I’d imagined it. I had to turn around and go back. I told the owner of the
shop my story and decided that, even though I couldn’t afford it, I was
going to buy it. “You probably think I’m foolish for wanting a child-like bureau instead of an antique.” He said “you should do what makes you happy and I will even deliver it for you.”
After arranging it in its new home, we agreed that it was the perfect size
and shape and color for the room. He asked me “what are you going to do with
the old one?” I told him “you can have it if you want it. It had been passed
down to my daughter’s ex-husband from his parents.” He looked it over, smiled and said ”this is over a hundred years old. I would be glad to sell it for you and give you the balance, after deducting the cost of your new purchase.” Of course I said YES. After he sold my bureau, I received a check from him for $35 dollars. What a deal!
I look at my sweet little bureau and smile. I feel that God loves and supports me. I am in awe of the mysterious connection between imagination and manifestation.
I made a sign and put it in the top drawer to remind me. It says, Evidence.
Bonnie Alexander
God Answers Prayer
I entered religious life when I turned 18 and right out of high school. I loved being a nun and being in the community. I came home on weekends and had a friend who invited me to attend a prayer meeting at St. Patrick’s church. I was blown away by what I witnessed – here were people loving and hugging one another. I was skeptical and afraid at first because we were taught in the convent not to show emotions or affection.
I continued to go to the meetings when I came home on the weekends and really began to love the community. I knew there was something there that I didn’t have. I can truly say that I met God at St. Patrick’s. I knew God in books and philosophy, but not in my heart. Now God was in my heart and I had a personal relationship with him.
After awhile, I knew I had to be there-that this is where I was going to grow closer to God. I approached the provincial of my religious order and asked if I could work in this parish and still remain a nun. This had never been done before so it was a huge leap of faith for me to even ask this. Much to my surprise, they said yes and I had their blessing.
I moved into Manna House (a group of dedicated women working for the parish) and worked as the Religious Education Coodinator for 7 years. As I grew and changed, I knew in my heart that I could no longer stay in the religious life. After much discernment and prayer I decided to leave the order after 20 years. Another step in faith because being in a religious order gave me safety and security. I got a job as a waitress in the neighborhood. I now needed to find a place of my own to live. I didn’t know what I was going to do and I had nothing to start a new life. I was terrified and the flood gates opened up. I cried out to God, please help me. I have no place else to turn. You have to help me.
The very next day, a woman approached me from the parish and told me that she heard I had left the convent. She proceeded to tell me that her father-in-law had just passed away and there was a house full of stuff that I could have it I wanted it. I went to the house that afternoon and couldn’t believe my eyes. A bedroom set, dining room set, kitchen stuff – everything I needed to start my new life.
What I learned in my heart that day was that God knew me better than I knew myself, that He wanted me to be happy and that he would provide for me in every aspect of my life. God has been faithful and He still provides for me and I am always in awe and gratitude for his faithfulness.
Evelyn Laurie
Our Loved Ones Do Communicate With Us
My friend Ed and I were driving to Gregg’s restaurant for their famous desserts after a meditation service last week. As the car on my left whizzed by me, I heard Ed exclaim, “Look at the 435 on that license plate” as a big smile came across his face. I asked curiously, “What does that mean to you?” He then proceeded to tell me his story as I listened intently.
“The license plate on my family’s car was ET534. My father’s name was Ed Tanzi. After his transition 30 years ago, my mother began driving the family car. You can imagine being the only child and a boy of an Italian mother, we were very close. She died 6 years ago and I still miss her so. For whatever reason, that license plate was important to me and I kept it after her transition.
I very much know she is with me and I feel her presence and energy all the time. I am especially aware of her presence when she “shows up” by allowing me to see the number when I am going through a difficult time in my life or making an important life decision. I see the number on license plates, on telephone numbers and the clock radio in my bedroom. I love it when I wake up and the clock radio is flashing 435. My day starts off on such a positive note and it is like I am carried through the day. I feel supported and loved. Even though she is no longer with me in physical form, her spirit and energy are with me.”
“I know exactly what you mean” I said. I also believe our loved ones want to communicate with us and let us know they are ok and still with us. Sometimes, you may not recognize the subtle messages because you are too busy. When you slow down, meditate and practice staying in the moment, you will give yourself the opportunity for your loved one to communicate with you.
Ed Tanzi
THE POWER OF VISUALIZING
My dream was to move to a bigger house and nicer neighborhood. For two years I searched and prayed for the perfect house, specifically one that had a finished walkout basement for my cousin to live in. I visualized my new house and what I wanted.
When I finally found the house and neighborhood that I loved, I decided to wait and see if the price would come down. This was a big mistake because it sold shortly after I saw it. I knew the next time I found what I liked, I would move quickly.
I needed this experience to motivate me to the next step. I took a picture of the home that I wanted and put it on my computer screen so I would see it everyday. I visualized myself living in it. I often drove to the neighborhood, parked my car and just walked around. I acted as if I already lived there. I even stopped a neighbor and asked if she knew of any houses for sale. A few months later, I received a phone call from my real estate agent informing me of a house that just went on the market. She said it would be perfect for me and I would love it. She was right. God works in strange ways. I lost the home that I loved only to find one that was so much better for my situation. I loved it and put a down payment on it immediately. I knew in my heart God answered my prayers.
I stepped out in faith, trusting that my house would sell quickly. I put a SOLD sign on the outside of my house (before it sold) and took a picture of it. I put the picture on my computer desk top and looked at it every day. I visualized the house selling quickly – it sold in 30 days. Even though I have lived there for over a year, I am still in awe and so grateful to God for answering my prayers.
Sandy Lato
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