We are not alone

This real life story happened to me more than four decades ago, but everytime I relived it I felt as if it just took place yesterday. My hubby and I together with our toddler son used to go camping on our farmlet during weekends where we had a small caravan parked onsite. The total package of land was about a hundred acres. On this particular occasion we had invited another family to come along and the idea was that they would also escort us towing the caravan back to civilization.

We were having so much fun flying kites and riding motorbike until it was time to pack up, when my husband realised he had lost his keys - as it could have easily dropped out from his back pocket. We searched for many hours and the task was made more difficult as the grass was knee high in height and was very thick. I wasn’t too concerned until the autumn afternoon turned grey and the air got chilly. It was really a case of searching for a needle amongst a haystack and by then, our friends with their toddler had given up hope searching and were packing up to leave. It occurred to me then our only option was to stay in the “wilderness” overnight and to try our luck the next day.

Then reality hit - I was struck with panic realising that there was a high possibility that this small bunch of keys would never be found. Just visualize a young couple with a baby, no food or warm blankets in store and without the key to start our car. We could not drive away, with or without the caravan. There was absolutely nothing in sight except perhaps a couple of snakes lying around but they were too lazy to help us out by pulling the keys from the thick carpet of grass.

I know panicky people do pray and I was of no exception so I ran into the caravan and uttered “God, please help me”, but not quite trusting that He would deliver a miracle, right there and then! But almost instantly I “heard” a voiceless voice imprinting an idea into my mind.

It said something along the lines of “walk out the caravan door and take nine big steps towards a certain direction”; now if you were standing on a step viewing over 180 degree span of land stretching in front of you, it was impossible to tell which direction you were supposed to take. I don’t remember how I came to any conclusion, your guesses were as good as mine.

By then the clouds had turned grey but suddenly for a split moment, some clouds parted and a single beam of light shone from above (.... be real, pigs don’t fly, right? ...but it is 100% true and I am a very accurate story teller). Even though I did not possess a 20/20 vision, this laser (heavenly) beam managed to pierce through the approaching darkness to catch my eye as the shining surfaces of the silvery keys reflected like little stars dancing on the ground.

Now you remember I shared with you that the hundred acre block was covered with knee-high grass, so you would wonder how I managed to see through the grass to find the keys? As strange as it sounds (and I did not take a drop of alcohol that day), the bunch of keys was now lying on a flat, bald patch of raw ground, not a big one but big enough to accommodate the size of the bunch of keys.  There was no way that the keys could have made such an impression on the ground as they were not heavy enough and there was no tall grass within that small circle-like patch.

Who would love me so much to do all that for me? An Intelligence who knows how to part the clouds, make the ray and cut the grass? 

People after hearing this story would wonder why God would lend a hand here, afterall it was not a life or death situation. But to be honest, an experience like that happening to an immature and easily frightened young mother, somehow it seemed close to that.  

I am not sharing this story because it has a wow factor with a supernatural flavor, that in itself would only serve the purpose of whetting our appetite for curiosity. I think the true meaning behind the story is to re-mind ourselves that God (or Whoever you address as your Highest Help) watches over us 24/7 even if we are not aware of His presence. It is extremely comforting to know that our smallest prayers are being heard. As I shared this “weird” incident with my hubby in the car on our way to the caravan park, his reply was the typical “it was a coincidence” version. That instant we had a puncture but of course my husband was too proud to ask Him for help, he called the RACV Road Assist instead!

Someone once said “Coincidence is the way God chooses to remain anonymous” and I believe that God is the only Being capable of such humbleness. He would gladly lend us a hand but never felt the need to put up his hand to claim the credit.

I often pondered over our resistance to cultivate a relationship with this Higher Intelligence and our obsession to figuring out things by ourselves especially during tough times. It would be like standing in front of a door knocking but never bother to turn the knob to find out that it has never been locked. I think there is always Help available but it is so hard to decipher the “message” with our very noisy minds. 

I derive the most pleasure, comfort, courage and meaning with everything I do ONLY when I am aware of my connection to my Higher Power. I think we are all hard-wired to this Creative Intelligence so when we are plugged into the Source, it really feels like being HOME where we belong. 

Try to cultivate, nourish, and mostly enjoy such relationship, don’t walk this life path alone simply because we are not meant to do this alone. There is no need to struggle through life like an “abandoned child” (or driver), I believe that we were all born into this world with our GPS (God-Proposed-Sign) already installed for guidance and direction, we just need to practise using it.

Right in the midst of the dynamic of life, listen to the voice of inner guidance - Raj

It would be a sad thing if we, in our age of miracles, were to lose our sense of the miraculous. It is surprise, curiosity and love which rejuvenate the mind.  - Harold Nicholson

Be childlike to God but childish to no one and if we can adopt a sense of playfulness and wonder like all children do, we are returning home to our authentic self  - yours truly

Thanks again for reading my story, may you all be blessed with many miracles.