How My Window Shopping Time Was Used To Answer Someone's Prayer
I’m back in Australia, and we sold my car a few weeks before I arrived.
So I’ve been in the house with no easy way to get around. I have been doing the things I needed to do and some things I wanted to do.
Because almost every Australian store closes at 5 PM (do not ask!),
I couldn’t even take my husband’s truck after he finishes his workday.
My lovely man obligingly took a company vehicle, to give me his truck so I could do my errands before I fly back to Bali
Sunday!
The first thing I realized was I had NOT missed driving his diesel, V8 stick-shift, on the wrong (left side) of the road, shifting with my LEFT hand. Of course I am right handed! 
My second realization was: I was NOT going to stick to my original plan of doing my errands “as quickly as possible” and rush back home, so I could continue with cleaning and sorting
and other necessary chores.
Why? Because it felt better to just take my time and have nice conversations with the sales people and even window shop a little. I’ve been away from Australia for sometime and I had missed my little town.
By the time I made my way to what passes for a Walmart/K-Mart type store here in Australia (BigW), I had almost fully let go of the “shoulds” of my time schedule.
INTUITION SPEAKS:
Once I got my new iPad stylus, I realized my intuition strongly wanted me to look in the book section. I’d never shopped here for books in five years. But today was the day!
Suddenly, I knew that giving my stepchildren books for Christmas was exactly what I wanted to do and would feel good to me.
I looked. I lingered. I dawdled. I just generally, took my darn time.
I finally picked up a copy of “The Art of Not Giving a F*ck” for my oldest step daughter. It has a very distinctive orange cover.
I found 3
other gift books right after and still…I…stayed.
PERSON WHO HAD SECRETLY PRAYED FOR HELP ARRIVES:
Eventually, a young man came along to the same section and stood perusing the books near me. He hesitated, and then picked up my orange book!
I immediately felt drawn to give him praise about his book choice.
That led to a conversation. Which led to serendipities and an even deeper heartfelt conversation.
Which led to my discovery that HE was why God had me lingering in
the store, to help THIS young man (I say, young man, he was in his late 30s).
He had immediately triggered my mothering, nurturing energy, in a good way.
He ended up sharing with me that he had just attempted to commit to suicide a few weeks before today and had been saved! He had a wife and children, and was really starting himself over. He was searching for guidance.
And I was able to stay there
and pour love and guidance out onto him. It felt amazing.
I have controversial advice for suicidal people. And I have helped several people in that scary spot. I blessed him with my novel perspective.
In that moment, I recognized I am indeed living in my state of “Mastery”,
as I went with the flow even though it was counterintuitive
to “waste” my afternoon window shopping.
I’m due to fly back to Bali in less than four days and have many things to “do”.
But the Universe knew more than I did. (Spoiler: It always does!)
MY TIME WAS USED TO GIVE US BOTH A PRICELESS GIFT:
I was able to give this young man some insights into his life journey, and some things he’d experienced and give him some well deserved (& overdue) praise.
I got his contact information and I’m
going to figure out what I think he needs and make sure he knows what those resources are.
Flashback to 3 hours earlier, as I entered my 3rd shop,
I was asked, “Are you ready for Christmas?”
My immediate thought in that moment was, “I need to make sure I am good before I worry about Christmas, which is an external event for everyone else”. (I am neither a grinch nor the
shopkeeper’s coach so I didn’t say all that!)
We need to make sure that WE are “ready for the holiday” internally, before we worry about the stuff: the decorations, the food, the gifts, and who’s arriving on what day.
(If you do, the external will flow easily, mirroring your internal.
If you don’t -> External Fuckery will ensue).
I was getting myself "ready for Christmas" by taking a leisurely morning to do my errands, instead of rushing.
Because I gave myself that grace and space, and that TIME FOR
ME,
God connected me with someone he wanted to bless through me.
This man was someone God wanted
protected.
He was my GIFT.
Please Alpha. Do not view taking time for yourself as
selfish. When you fill yourself up FIRST, you can then pour out that love and goodness on those around you. Nothing but good will flow from you loving you.
May you enter or continue your holiday season FILLED UP.
In Joy,
