A True And Continuing Story
About the Magic of Serendipity and the Power of Belief
With Resulting Reflections
~ Forward ~
This is both a light read, and a deep one.
I feel blessed for having been present and able to tell this and successive stories. It is growing into a chapter book, as with each passing day, serendipity offers additions and they weave their way in. I do my best to remember every detail with appropriate pronouns (and they switch throughout the story), and with as much detached narration as possible. I give myself no heirs and tell this story in order to hopefully, lend inspiration, Power and Belief to those who might need it. Namaste: My Spirit Recognizes Your Spirit.
Chapter 1: The Magic of Average
One lovely, sunny September day, a young woman was making her way to her ‘meditation station’.
In truth, it was a gym, but the young lady considered it a rather sacred place, as she felt grounded there – comfortable in the process of going into the deep and sometimes forgotten realms of her mind and body. The experience of life and the Self-exploration and Self-improvement it asks of us is both amazing and daunting.
This and one other gym in particular – multifaceted destinations where one can be (with) one’s Self, and/or like-minded others, where one ultimately seeks to re-write the script, to slough off old or outdated layers, to add better and more appropriate ones, to make alliances and friends, to get stronger, to enhance mental fortitude and patience, to enhance the ability to apply one’s skills both inside and outside of the gym, to lengthen endurance and life span, to be faster or slower, to emulate and set a good example, and to gain the stamina required so that one can keep going, through the sometimes painful process of growth and life in general – are indeed, sacred spaces.
The goal is to become: Better in body, mind and spirit.
So, while driving to this time sensitive destination, with her mind on her meditation and her meditation on her mind, windows rolled down and a favourite song in her ears and speakers, the young woman was suddenly called out of her timeline and diverted into another one – an unexpected detour – by what can only be described as Serendipity.
Excited to be ‘free’ from responsibilities, she made her way along the road, and came to a stop behind the car in front of her, which was stopped at a red light.
On her right hand side, a very old and very tired looking woman stood on the sidewalk, with her eyes closed.
The older woman was small; perhaps 4 feet tall. The weight of the two bags she had in her small hands caused her already hunched over form, to bow even more deeply.
One of her bags was big, white and see-through, and in it, the young lady could see household essentials; toilet paper in particular.
The other bag she held was a little red one, both of which she clung to while standing there on the side walk, looking peaceful … a little too peaceful? There was a definite air of distress around her.
People were milling around, looking as if in a hurry to get home from work – a most wonderful time of day! But also, a time of day in, and an area within which one might quicken one’s pace for other reasons.
In the young lady’s best estimation, no one had noticed the older lady.
The young lady was glad she had.
With her window rolled down, stopped right there, the young lady and the older lady were close enough to communicate.
The older lady turned and noticed the young lady looking at her, and opened her eyes, and the young lady heard a voice call out.
“I don’t think I can make it home”, said the small voice. “I live really close but I just don’t think I can make it.”
The young lady smiled and gently called back:
“I will give you a ride. Wait right there!”
As traffic was moving and building, as the light had turned green, the young lady slowly looked all around to ensure safe passage through a three point turn. She hoped that any traffic coming up and down would see that the young lady was doing something ‘anomalous’ because of the other, older lady, standing alone on the sidewalk.
She had time and opportunity, so she turned around and pulled over to face the direction the older lady had pointed in.
The young lady pulled far over, turned on her hazard lights, got out and on a clear street, headed with purpose towards the older lady.
As she crossed over into this new experience, she wondered why she hadn’t just opened the door – right there where the older lady stood – and helped her into the car. It would have saved the older lady the added challenge of having to walk any further, and the younger woman, perhaps, a bit of time.
She decided not to question why, as doing so at that point would have been a definite waste of time.
Everything happens the way it happens for a reason. This is the Magic of Serendipity. Accepting it is like seeing clearly for the first time.
When the young lady arrived on the other side of the street, the two women met each other with smiles and a melange of spoken and unspoken greetings.
The young lady asked if she could take her bags, to which the older lady replied with a sigh of relief, ‘Yes, please’, and they walked slowly, arm to arm, across the street.
The passers-by and oncoming drivers alike all stopped to allow for the slow pace of the two women.
Perhaps some watched.
As they walked, the older lady began to explain.
“I bit off more than I could chew, I’m afraid. I like to do things myself, when they need to be done. I don’t like to wait. Because I might be waiting a long time, and I don’t have a lot of time.”
The young lady smiled and said,
“I understand.” And she did.
“My heart is old, you see, and I overestimated my abilities. And I didn’t know what to do. And I don’t live far! Thank you so much for stopping…I just didn’t think I could make it. So I was praying… asking for a miracle.”
Pre-set, time sensitive deadlines and schedules, attachment to outcomes and expectations had been set aside.
The young lady thought about her mother and grandmother. And she thought of herself, as she reaches ever deeper and further into her own biological oblivion, and about that of all beings.
Beings and versions of us who are calling out to be heard, no matter how small the sound might feel, amid the noise of it all … calling out for someone to notice … to hear and listen and respond, with simple kindness.
To interrupt the rude, and to stop the ride, and to pause on the timeline: If only for a moment.
That is the Magic of Serendipity.
~~~~~~~
When they arrived at the young woman’s car, she opened the door and helped the older woman in. The young woman offered to put the older lady’s bags in the back, but the latter lady insisted on holding her own bags.
The young lady and the old lady were so much alike.
Before pulling out, into a new destination, the older lady said,
“I just can’t thank you enough. I am so grateful! I didn’t know what to do. So I was just standing there, praying for a miracle. And then you – What is your name, dear?”
They were looking at each other, eyes focused, as if like shutters flung open on the first day of spring, those reflective windows to the soul, in a pure and natural place; warmed like the sun or by a sincere 20 second hug or a shared, knowing smile, sitting next to each other, there, in the safety of something kind.
The younger woman reached out her hand and properly introduced herself.
With a smile, the young woman said:
“My name is Mary.”
And to Mary’s surprise, the older lady’s face – reading something between disbelief and Unreal Belief – lit up as she took the younger lady’s hand, as if she had heard something so resonating, that it was almost too strange and wonderful to absorb.
There was a quiet stillness then – like a fluttering pause – as if the heart of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons had burst into the wings of a butterfly.
One or two second passed. Or was it one or two lifetimes?
And in those timeless seconds, it was as if the bridge between the ages had not just been crossed, but all timelines had merged.
The feeling took them both to a place that seemed to exist outside of time.
Like staring into a mirror and seeing oneself, they looked into each other’s eyes.
The timeless silence was broken by an excitement the older lady could no longer contain. The sound she made was more than sound.
Like an echo from a place too far to hear – an invisible, all-encompassing definite vibration.
The older lady said,
“My name is Mary.”
Still holding hands, they laughed.
And the older Mary sighed and relaxed.
And the younger Mary put the car in gear, silently tripping balls, as they say.
She drove to the stop light and the older Mary said,
“See where that white thing is – right past the light? It’s right there, dear. Oh thank you so much!”
Younger Mary said with all sincerity,
“I am glad that I am able to help.”
They drove on, past the light.
“See where that white thing is? Next to the green fence, pull in right there.”
“Do you need me to drive down…”
“No, no my dear! Right here is perfect. Thank you so much again!”
And she handed younger Mary two shiny gold coins – two coins with Canadian Loons of them – two dollars.
Younger Mary adamantly said, ‘No, no… It was my pleasure’, but accepted the coins being placed firmly into her hands, as she could feel and understand the non-negotiability in older Mary’s hands.
It was the gesture that mattered … it was important for older Mary to show her gratitude in whatever way she could, and for younger Mary to graciously accept.
I will never part with those treasures.
Mary put the e-brake on and started to take off her seat belt.
“Do you need help getting…”
“No, no dear. I will be fine … this is all the help I needed. Thank you!”
Younger Mary watched as older Mary arrived at her door, and then sat reflecting in something far beyond mere lawful good alignment.
Called back then into the last timeline she had visited, she put her seat belt on, disengaged the e-brake, looked slowly all ways, back and forth and back again, and backed out, back on to the street she had only a few minutes ago, driven down, singularly focused on the forward drive and destination.
She felt as if another extra layer had been peeled away from the mystery; the mystery of why, and of who she is, and her purpose in this life.
She arrived safely at her destination and carried these questions, the ball tripping feeling and this new vision with her, through every movement and every word and every intention.
She thought about all the people who feel they can go no further, and in that stillness, we pray for a miracle.
Stay tuned for Chapter Two: How The Current ‘Business’ Model Interrupts and Mitigates Both The Process and Our Progress
I enjoyed the read, Mary…I, too, have experienced the ‘magic’ and is why I no longer question when things seem to be going in a different direction than planned. I will stay tuned 🙂 Take care, Carol
Thank you Carol. 🙂
I appreciate it.
I cannot deny that there is much more going on in this world than we are privy to; much that I cannot understand. And that includes the biggest existential questions.
The things we experience (and choose to write about) are like markers in our lives. To punctuate significant things. But it is most difficult to understand this amazing and puzzling thing called life.
I remain committed to being present throughout the process. To the best of my ability.
With gratitude, Mary.