Chasing Fed-Ex 

Sometimes I read symbolism into daily circumstances in my search for the meaning of events in my life. Yes, kinda weird, I know.

We’ve all heard about people who always find a parking spot close to the entrance in a crowded mall lot simply because they think they will.  Those who favor this theory say that their belief doesn’t create the spot, but it does heighten their awareness of looking for the clues—for example, red taillights indicating someone backing out.

This leads me to my Chasing the Fed Ex truck.

I had to return some documents that required my signature to my financial planner in Colorado.

He provided a self-addressed and postage paid Fed-ex envelope for me to use. I told him I would send them Friday and he could expect them on Monday. Come Friday, I discovered that finding a Fed-ex drop off was not as easy as it had been when I lived in Ahwatukee and merely zipped down Ray Road to the Fed Ex center.

When I googled the nearest drop box to my new home in Sun Lakes, I found it was about 10 miles away.  Not a big deal but I had to work that jaunt around other activities I had already planned for the day.  I had a Bible Study at 1 pm and decided to make the drop afterwards as the home where we had the study was at least one mile closer to the drop.

Then I kept thinking about how constantly I see the FedEx truck in this retirement community of 5000 homes making deliveries. Wouldn’t it be nice, I thought, if I ran across one this day and could hand him my package? I even said a little prayer or sorts.

As I was waiting for a red light to turn green at a busy intersection, sure enough, I saw a small Fed-Ex van up ahead across the street headed south—not the direction I was going. So instead of making a left turn to go East, I went straight when the light turned green.  I could still see the van. However, it went past the entrance to  the country club and golf course and I had to slow down in case golf carts were crossing (hundreds of those in Sun Lakes-they frown on us hitting one).  I lost sight of the van and soon came to a T in the road. Had the van made a left or right turn? I turned right and drove for about a mile. No van and lots of little side streets it could have turned into.

I turned around and went  the other way past the T  for several miles through a residential area, also with many side streets. No van. Now I needed to abandon this project or I would be late for Bible Study which is small group around a table --can’t slip into a back row unnoticed. 

I wasn’t sure how to get back to the main road without backtracking but saw a man in one of those little golf carts who kindly pointed me in the right direction. North and East.  I got back on track, knowing I would be a few minutes late and feeling foolish for pursuing the van. I mean so what if I had to drive 10 miles down the road? Not a big deal.

Just as I was pulling into the gated entrance to the neighborhood where Bible study was, when what to my wondering eyes should appear? Just  ahead of me was a Fed Ex Van!  We both had to slow down and stop in line to get past the gate house which raised the gate for entry. I had to get to the driver before he went thru the gate or I would surely lose him as I had lost the other one.

So as he was slowing to get in line, I pulled up beside him, almost cutting him off as if I rudely wanted to get ahead of him.  I got so close to his side of the van he couldn’t help but notice me. I lowered my window and waved my package, asking if he would wait for me after he went thru the gate. He did and when I pulled up behind, he even jumped out and took the package from me.

I thought, Wow, God does answer prayers. Even beyond my expectations.  I didn’t even have to get out of my car. 

Of course, I was a little late to the study but when I explained why and tied it to my belief that sometimes God answers even our simplest prayers if only we ask, they were sympathetic. 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

  Matthew 7: 7 

I know this prayer request may seem petty when people are praying for healing from cancers and important life issues, but still it was an evidence of God in my life. And here comes the symbolism.

I have been chasing many things in my 78 years. Sometimes like the first fed-ex van, I’ve seen something I really wanted to capture, only to lose sight of it or get lost in the pursuit by going down the wrong road.  Yes, many detours and wrong roads.

Just recently I  began my  earnest search for God, wanting so much to have a stronger faith and trusting him to show me the way.  One of the first verses I memorized and say to myself often.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs. 3: 5 - 6

And a little more  symbolism? The van appeared at the gate to the Bible Study. It was clearly a message that I am on the right road as I seek God’s wisdom and direction through the study of his word.

One ironic note. As if God wanted to put an exclamation point on my prayer, the very next day a Fed-Ex truck made a delivery to my door.  J  Twice blessed or Is there a scripture about patience?  

 A NEW YEAR AWAITS

Blog Feb 1, 2020

It’s been a year since I posted to my blog!  Well, 357 days to be exact.  Excuses? Oh, I have plenty.  I finished two books, traveled to Italy with the Duffy family, did the beach week with the family in San Diego, did a Grandmother-Grandaughter trip with Marielle to Kansas (Space camp) and then the unplanned spontaneous biggee-- moved from 30 years in Ahwatukee to Sun Lakes.  Photo above was the sunrise my first morning here. God’s way of telling me it was the right move.

So lots of changes in my life.  But the biggest change is that the Lord is now very present.  I am grateful for so many blessings and mainly that he has opened my heart to daily joy after several years of grieving.  My new favorite song is “Why Me Lord” sung by Roy Clark but written by Kris Kristofferson. (a little trvia from Ken Burns’ Country Music special, which by the way is excellent.)  But I digress.

The words in the song that speak to me are “What have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known?”  This move has made me aware, once again, of how kind people are. I had so much help moving—both emotionally and physically!  People loading the trunks of their cars, their trucks, hanging pictures, packing and unpacking, and expressing their good wishes for my new home. 

I’ve  also gained a new confidence (sort of) in doing things I never did before. Simple things that most people already knew or did, but let’s face it, I have been spoiled by having strong men in my life who insisted on doing the “man” thing. Lifting, pounding ,installing, driving, and in general taking really good care of me. 

At age 78, I’m learning to be more self-sufficient. I even hung some pictures the other day without slamming my thumb. My tool box consists of 3 hammers, (one regular and two gold girly ones), a few screwdrivers, and a pair of pliers. Anything that requires more than those tools will be hired out.  I discovered Task Rabbit…more about that after they finish their first job for me next Tuesday. Or should I say first “task”?

It feels good to be blogging again—my goal is to not wait another year to continue.

I close with Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

A Night to Shine. February 8,2019

I participated in A Night To Shine last night.  A night dedicated to disabled teens but 

It caused my heart to glow as well.

Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation,  this Prom for teens, who might not experience one otherwise, was started four years ago in 40 churches. Last night over 600 churches held this special magical night across the country.

The Phoenix location is at Price and Baseline at the 29:11 Church which has a huge layout in a strip mall of all places. It occupies most of the strip but there are a few restaurants there as well.

There were 100 participants with over 250 volunteers.  Everyone was dressed up for prom and had a variety of activities to participate in during the evening. A stretch limo ride, the red carpet, kareoke, a game room, corsages, make-up, photos, dinner, a king and queen crowning ceremony (every participant was crowned) and best of all was the dance floor. They danced their hearts out and their unadulterated joy was beautiful.  

Every teen is assigned a buddy.  My “date” for the evening was 19-year old Bailly, a senior in high school who recently had a heart transplant. It did not slow her down one bit as we danced each dance. Her enthusiasm was contagious. The floor was packed, including those in wheelchairs whose dates twirled them around and around.  When you witness such happiness in those who might have reason to not be so happy, you are truly inspired to appreciate your health and good fortune.

There was a respite room for parents and caregivers who could relax while their child was with a buddy. They could enjoy chair massages, TV shows, a chocolate fondue fountain and many other goodies.

As I drove home I thought of how fortunate I was to participate in this event and witness the love poured out to these children in so many ways. It truly was a night to shine, and even today, the light that this love spread filled my heart and  is still glowing within me.

MANIPULATED LIVES by Helene Leuschel

The author of Manipulated Lives studied journalism and communications but one would think she had a PhD in psychology.  In this collection of five short novellas with a common theme, she has created true-to-life scenarios of how people are manipulated by others.  I am certain you will recognize someone you know. 

She captures our interest and raises our awareness of these occurrences with characters we have all met at some point in our lives as we sadly watch them become victims of manipulators—often by those closest to them acting in the guise of love.  Or worse yet, we might recognize ourselves as having been the manipulator in someone else’s life. These stories may cause you to squirm a bit.

The writing is skillful as she draws us into the story much the same way the character is drawn to the manipulator, a seemingly innocent and believable attraction that slowly deteriorates into something unmanageable and quite twisted.  I found myself cheering for the main character to become aware of what was happening in their lives and to run—to run quickly and not look back.   

I think it was quite masterful that the author carried out this theme with such a variety of characters, some young, some old, some vulnerable desperately seeking love and acceptance while others seemed confident and not likely to fall prey to such manipulation, yet they do. Is anyone safe?

These stories, though short, pack a powerful punch.  This book would be an excellent book club choice with its thought provoking situations.  Holly’s story would be an especially interesting assignment for teens. 

Someone said the sign of a good book is when you continue to think about it once you are finished.  It certainly has me thinking!

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

An extraordinary novel based on the true story of a family of Polish Jews who are separated at the start of the Second World War determined to survive-- and to reunite.

But equally as fascinating a read is the author’s own true story and how she came to write the book.  At age 15, the seeds for this novel were planted when a high school teacher assigned an I-search project for students to explore their ancestry.  In talking with her grandmother, Hunter, who not being raised in the Jewish faith, was surprised to learn that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors.  She didn’t think about the project for another six years until she attended a family reunion where more stories of the war were revealed.  “I knew then that I needed to investigate and write about what happened.”

Hunter took off on a nine-year journey, armed with a digital voice recorder, that took her around the globe. The result is her acclaimed book starring her ancestors, the Kurc  family.

Page one opens in the spring of 1939 in Radom, Poland, where three generations of this family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war looms closer.  The talk around the Seder table is of new babies and budding romances.  But soon the horrors become inescapable. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see each other again, the Krucs must rely on hope, ingenuity and inner strength to persevere.

This novel spans five continents in six years.  It transports the reader from the jazz clubs of Paris to Karkow’s brutal prison to the ports of Northern Africa and the farthest reaches of the Siberian gulag. 

There are countless stories of WW II and often when I begin reading one, I wonder how it will differ from the others. This one, because it is based on truly incredible circumstances, renews the human spirit and  yes, it is aptly titled.  They were indeed the Lucky Ones.