Flying high

Yes, I smell like a fresh spring breeze. Estée Lauder outfitted me with a free spritz of "pleasures" perfume at the airport store.

I considered the added pleasure of a complimentary manicure  with the sample polish but was dissuaded by another woman in the store who applied sample cream to face. She told me once she was so zealous in her application that guilt got her and she went back to buy the expensive stuff. I didn't want to face the same cosmetic contrition.

What to do with a three hour layover...

Calsthetics were completed in the restroom; I did stretches and 30 jumping jacks. And inspired another woman to stretch as well -- we discussed airport exercise classes: probably a genius/bank business venture.

I ate a complete dinner including salad, chips and peanut M&Ms. And avoided the pricey "smart" water thanks be to God-- the woman at the checkout told me point blank that it was six dollars. I wonder if she instinctively knew my budget or if she gives everyone that save/sage advice. I asked for tap water instead and the guy who filled the plastic cup warned me, "It's not healthy water."

Thank you, New York City. Please excuse me while I get out my Bunsen burner, travel-sized collapsible pot and boil it. (This facet-fresh water had a crisp minerally taste a grade above the water from the house where I was raised).

Other fun adventures include people I encountered. 

I observed a woman who donned a shirt with the wings on the back--almost as if she was ready to run down the runway and spread wide her arms. Here we go… Ready for lift off!

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Another woman I met had a different kind of heavenly experience.

My seat buddy on the flight to New York City was overcome with Believer joy. She is a motivational speaker who teaches kids how to make goals, encourage one another, and the live as champions through a presentation that includes yo-yo and magic tricks.

We shared stories of how God acted in our lives, and how His timing is impeccable. 

A couple years ago, she heard a voice inside her tell her to apply for a job offer she received in a random email she had deleted because she thought it was scam. 

The Spirit told her to apply for the job using her phone. She called the company and it turned out it was the last day to apply and there was one spot left. 

The job took her to a different state two weeks before she had planned to go overseas. 

She originally balked at the offer to stay stateside, but again heard a voice inside her say "You will meet your husband there." And she did--eight months later, right when she put in her job resignation.

Now she is overseas for the same amount of weeks that her husband has to travel for his job. Again the timing was Divinely planned.

Thank you, God, for this woman, and for the airport employee who tracked down my bag after I lost the luggage slip, and the lady who escorted me and another gentleman (who let me follow him) to a different building so we could find our departure gate.

My sister and her fiancé took me to the airport and watched me all the way through security-- they waved with enthusiasm, and sent me a love text .

All these encounters are little signs of God's enormous love for me. Thank you, Father, for escorting me on this trip.

Little Lovely Light

Today’s Morning Prayer reminds me again to praise God and focus on the Good News.  

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

“Whatever is lovely”... I wonder if a journalist was ever asked in a job interview, “Tell me about a story you covered that was lovely.”

Yet there is something compelling about lovely stories. Not overly sentimental, Utopian fluff, but real accounts of simple perseverance and everyday valor.

A few such stories have come across my being recently. (I don’t have a desk; rather face to face interactions with people are mostly where I get my stories).

My co-worker got a new job as a headmaster at our sister school. He taught for six years at the school where I teach and is perfect for this new job. His students’ witness is also a testament to his formation of them and the students’ faith in the power of prayer. They prayed for him all year for a “special intention”—which could be anything; their consistent appeal was heard by God.

Two friends got the jobs for which I interviewed this year before I decided to teach again next year. I am so happy for them! The jobs are interesting and they are well fitted for the positions.

A friend who has lived as a single parent for five years, was not religious and was adverse to marriage is excited at the prospect of a relationship with a Christian man.

Another friend got a new job closer to her house.

And all of my seven first graders were promoted to second grade! Before the graduation Mass last Friday I asked my students what we need to remember when we are in a public forum.

“To act as butlers,” one of my students said with the confidence that comes from a year of training in this subject.

“Ambassadors,” I corrected with such enthusiasm that she probably thought she said that word herself.

I also went to a farm last weekend and talked with a man who had Asperger’s. He interacted with the world in a refreshing way.

“Do you know that person?” asked another farm guest of this man.

“Hmm. I don’t know. Let me see,” he said as he quickly got up and left the room to go look at the person this other farm guest mentioned.

He got up to see. That is lovely and honorable. He took the question seriously and acted. He recognized the importance of each person.

Another man took care of the bees. He opened the hives to show me and another guest the secret inner workings and hours later, brought honey combs to us so we could taste the first fruits of the season. It took him a while to check the hives, which he did with gentle attentiveness, then he thought of sharing his love for the bees and their products with us.

St. John wrote, “Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you.” (12:35). Flickers of light appear every day. If I catch them and watch them glow like fireflies in a peanut butter jar, the darkness will fade away.

Thank you God for Little. Daily. Light. Lovely Good News.

HPE

HPE: He Provides Everything. That's my choice today in the license plate game.