Grace Moments by Dolores Martin

I normally publish on Thursday. I find that there are Grace Moments in our life everyday and may from time to time write about the days events.

Today was such a day. The experience was a simple one, but it had an impact on a strangers life. Only he knows to what extent, but I thank God for allowing me to participate in a special moment with a stranger. Another child of God. My brother in FAITH.

SOMEONE NEEDED ME, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT.........

On occasion, I will attend Mass on a week-day. Today was such a day. The chapel was almost filled to capacity. Father Pat delivered an excellent homily and by coincidence addressed an emotion that was foreign to me until recently and that I needed to reflect upon.

After Mass, I needed to return to my home office to prepare for an extremely important presentation that I will be making. I had hoped to finish this work prior to my next meeting this afternoon.

SLOW DOWN...RELAX...YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING OVEREXTENDED.......

Instead of rushing from Church, I interacted with a fellow parishioner over coffee in our social hall.

I was facing a clock on the wall. Tick, tock went the clock and I really had to go.

One of those feelings that I have learned to listen to was coming over me as I went to my car. It kept telling me to drive down to the car dealership where I have been test driving a new car. I am awaiting the 09 model to come through and have no desire to purchase the vehicle yet. The pull was very strong. My birthday is next week and I thought to myself; treat yourself to an early birthday present. I pushed my practical thoughts aside. The pull to the dealership was strong. Why else should I go there if not to treat myself.

I pushed the thought of all the work waiting for me in my office and followed this urge.

I have a great sound system in my current vehicle and I turned up the volume to listen to Tom Jones as I accelerated faster than usual out of the Church parking lot. The highway was calling to me. Let your hair down, listen to the music and drive. And drive I did!!!!!! Unlike my usual conservative self.

As I approached exit 6, my practical side took over and I aborted the plan to drive to the car dealership. Sams Club is off that exit and my 20 year old television is dying a slow death. I decided to put it out of its misery and purchase a new one. I was almost past the exit but was able to make a sharp turn and correct my course. At the next stop light, one could also re-enter the highway. As I veered into the lane to take me to Sams Club, the car wanted to go straight. Straight would take me back to the highway.

O.K. WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT THE HECK, GOOOOOO WITH THE FLOW!!!!!!

I arrived at the dealership and was wandering around the parking lot, checking out colors and interiors. My practical side is looking conservative. The child in me is looking at the hot cherry red color that this car is featured. At my age?????????

A salesman approached me and we chatted. I told him that I had talked to another salesman there and that he had called me off and on. I did not have his card with me, but would like to work with him since he had already spent time with me. We went into the showroom. The salesman that I had previously worked with was not in. Another new car salesman came to assist me with questions. We joked around for a short time and shared a few good laughs.

I made it clear that I was not purchasing a vehicle today and would eventually meet with the gentleman who I had previously worked with. That was fine with him.

He asked me to join him in his office to update my information. While there, I said that this was a spur of the moment visit. I had just attended Mass and for no apparent reason, had an urge to visit their showroom. He asked about my Parrish. He told me that he had not been to Church recently but that he had a need to make a visit. There was a Franciscan Chapel nearby and he stopped in this morning to say a prayer. I had said that I just published an article that addressed the need to visit the tabernacle.

The jokes subsided. The conversation took on a very serious tone. He was hurting and conflicted. Deep emotions were troubling. He wanted to talk, but did not know how to start. I shared a story with him about a family who is going through several difficult health issues all at the same time. Some life threatening and or life shortening. The look on his face told me that their problems were far worse than his.

I had asked him if he had heard the story of the CROSS ROOM. He had not heard this story. I told him the story.

He reached over his desk and took both of my hands into his. He looked me in the eyes and said thank-you. THANK-YOU. He told me that he needed to hear what I had to say. The timing was perfect. He was also going back to that chapel today. He needed to call upon his FAITH even though he had not been to Church recently. He also told me that he was now going to call his sister in another state.

We hugged one another.

I NOW HAVE THE ANSWER AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE NEEDED TO DRIVE TO THIS DEALERSHIP AND HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN.

On the way home, I felt like singing and dancing. The music from Abba filled the air. If anyone had looked into my vehicle, they would have witnessed an older woman, singing and moving to the beat of the music and making a fool of herself. The cd disc changer moved on to another cd. It played a cd that I had forgotten that I had put in.

The car was now filled with the music of Amy Grant, Rock of Ages. Songs of hymns and faith. The song playing was: GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY and another called: SWEET WILL OF GOD...........