Those Positive Messengers
Twice in the past six months, extraordinary events happened that have me basking in my love and hope for the human race.
The first event happened when I was travelling. I had returned my rental car and was on the way to the airport when I received a text message from my assistant Ellie (who also happens to be my sister). It said simply, “Don’t panic, your wallet has been found. Call me right away.” Panic? I didn’t even know my wallet was missing! While I called her I dug through my purse and confirmed that I was, indeed, without my wallet. When Ellie answered the phone she said, “It’s a good thing you have an emergency card in your wallet. The guy called me. Here is his name and number; he’s waiting for your call.”
So I called this white knight whose voice was soothing as he assured me that he did have my red wallet. He had found it on the cement floor in the rental car garage and everything seemed to be intact. He said, “I don’t feel comfortable leaving it with one of the car rental agents so I’ll wait for you here.” I could not believe it. Here was a man travelling, probably tired and anxious to get to his destination and he was willing to wait in order to return my wallet personally. Naturally, the thought crossed my mind that he was hoping for a reward.
When I told the rental van driver the situation, he asked the other passengers if they minded if he turned around. To my amazement, they unanimously encouraged him to do so. We pulled up to the front of the building and there was my hero, seated on a rock with my wallet in his hand. I was trapped between two people in the van and didn’t want to delay folks any longer so I thanked him as cordially as I could from where I sat. Then I pulled a $50 bill out of my wallet and insisted that he take it. He said, “I already have one of those; I don’t need yours,” and he smiled. Tears sprang to my eyes. I did get his contact information and later that evening called to thank him more graciously than time allowed for when we met.
Another incident happened last week during the torrential rain we were having in Northern California where I now live.
Allow me to say that I am the first to admit that I am not a great driver. My motto is, “I’d rather be lucky than good.” Because I know my limitations, I always leave ample room between my car and the car in front of me, especially on the freeway. Last week that distance probably helped but, while driving on the 680, I still managed to rear-end the Lexus SUV in front of me. It was one of those “slam on the brakes and pray for the best” rear-enders. I hit him pretty hard.
What happened next was amazing. A very attractive and well-dressed Indian man in his late 30’s got out of his car. (I only mention his heritage so you can imagine the lilt of his beautiful accent.) To my question, “Are you hurt?” he answered, “No, I am fine.” He then looked at his bumper and then at mine and said, “God is with us today. There is no damage. Go and be careful. The weather is terrible.” He then took my hand and squeezed it while I said, “God bless you. Thank you so much.” He got back into his car, as did I and we both left. The entire incident was over in about three minutes.
I believe these things happen to me because I expect them to. I am convinced that most people are nice and those are the ones I run into (literally, as it turns out). These positive messengers that cross my path are a reminder that I am using my focus well.
My brother-in-law, on the other hand, always expects the worst and generally gets it. A few months ago, I was riding in the car with him and he was trying to merge into the lane next to us in rush-hour traffic. When both my sister and I suggested he put on his blinker so someone would let him in, he responded rather intensely, “No! You NEVER want to do that. When you do, they speed up to close the gap you could squeeze into.”
I’ve no doubt he’s right. He gets what he expects. What are your expectations?
