GIVING A RIDE TO A STRANGER

Life can be more than getting through repetitive routines and crossing to-do lists. Through the midst of what we may feel is a mundane week, we can be receptive to life’s magic. There are moments we may feel like we aren’t making that great of an impact as we know we can be making. When I feel like this I am careful and alert because in these times we could make the mistake of gravitating towards short term stimulation instead of seeking food for the soul. 

I began to open myself up daily with one single question, “How can I be of service?”. I pray to God about this every morning and throughout the day. I just had this hunger to be obedient to life’s needs which includes the needs of others around me. I wanted to be connected to life outside of me. To be a part of a bigger plan that wasn’t curated by my own pen and time table. 

To my surprise, the day had come. It was cold, rainy and the wind was blowing vigorously in all different directions. I was at a Starbucks 5 minutes away from my house and I ordered a big iced coffee despite it being cold haha. I had planned to catch up on an investment course I had purchased so I was determined and focused with my headphones on. Only 30 minutes had passed when I noticed a woman in her 50s come into the store. She carried multiple blankets and a large bag with clothes in it. She charged her phone just enough to make a short phone call and as she began to walk out of the store she walked past me and asked, “Do you have $1.25 ?” “No, I don’t carry cash, I'm sorry” I said. She smiled, thanked me and left the store. I wanted to help so I got up to check my wallet to make sure and I had no cash. Then, I felt a very subtle tug in my thoughts, “Go offer her a ride”. I’ve never done this before but I felt so honored that this may be the moment I had been praying for, the opportunity to be of service and I ran outside. I noticed she had reached quite a distance away so I shouted, “Could I give you a ride!” She turned immediately and said yes as she paced towards me, she seemed relieved and in awe of my offer. I was so delighted! 

She asked me to drop her off at her parents and we made small talk. Her name was Roshelle, she’s a grandma of a boy and a girl. As I approached her parent’s house she thanked me and I said “God told me to give you a ride” and she said, “Oh, I believe it! Right before you came outside I prayed ‘Oh, God, if only someone could offer to give me a ride!”. I sat there knowing that we were each other’s answered prayer. Once I dropped her off, I was overjoyed and I wanted to do it again! I wondered how many missed opportunities like these I had passed by because I was too busy in my own plans to look up and become available to the needs of others. John Maxwell said in a sermon, “God will never give you blessings he can’t use through you”. 

MESSAGE FROM VICTORIA 
I hope that as you go through your busy day, you can ask yourself, “How can I be of service?”. I know you are busy and I know you have places to be but the world is filled with magical moments. Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.

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