While on a family vacation in Hawaii three years ago, a surprising event reminded me God never takes vacations.
My husband and I had rented a car for the day and driven around the Big Island with our two grown kids. We’d been exploring the island all day and were ready to just relax on the beach and enjoy the sunset.
We found a nice little spot north of Pearl Harbor along Highway 93 called Maili. There wasn’t anyone else nearby on the beach, although some divers were fishing not too far away. We put out our umbrella and bright beach towels, definitely looking touristy. The picnic basket held snacks and some forbidden beer and wine. Like rebellious teenagers, we disregarded the sign that read “No alcohol”. (Admittedly, I am a bad example to my kids. I’ve been known to smuggle bottled water and candy to the movie theater, too, although I do always ‘pack it out’.)
My tolerance for alcohol is pretty low and it didn’t take long for me to feel tipsy. We were all being silly and enjoying the gorgeous sunset.
Before long, I had to use the restroom. It was a short walk from our beach nest and off I went, feeling a little wobbly. As I exited the deserted building, I noticed a woman sitting at a picnic table just above our site. Simultaneously, I heard a voice say “go speak with her.”
Whoa! That wine was affecting me more than I’d expected. I tried to clear my head, but instead the voice became more insistent. “Go Speak With Her.” Abruptly, the tipsy was gone and I became very aware this was God speaking, not the wine.
I strolled over to her table, feeling a bit self-conscious. She looked very intent and reflective as she stared out at the ocean. I said, “It’s a beautiful sunset, isn’t it?” She responded with a gorgeous smile and nodded. Surprising even myself, I just plopped down at her table and settled in.
It didn’t seem odd at the time, but we soon started chatting like long lost friends. I knew I was on sacred ground when Amber unexpectedly began sharing some of the most painful things I’ve ever heard. She confided past and current life choices she was wrestling with and trying to decide how to remedy them. I don’t remember most of my responses, probably because they weren’t really mine. I was just the messenger after all. At one point, she commented, “I was praying for God to tell me what to do, and you just told me exactly what I needed to hear.” We sat together in comfortable silence for a time, then embraced before she walked away. Just like that, my life and faith were inexplicably touched.
Amber said I was an answer to her prayer. I didn’t realize until much later she was also an answer to mine. (I can be pretty slow sometimes!) I’d been struggling with feeling like I didn’t matter, that I had no purpose. I guess I’d forgotten that I’d asked God to please give me something, anything to know I could be useful, that I did matter. Through Amber, He told me exactly what I needed to hear, too. I don’t know what answer she heard that evening, that’s between her and God. But I heard that I do matter, and He can use me in the most unpredictable ways.
I often think about Amber and wonder how she is. I also wish I would have realized the impact she had on me soon enough to tell her so.
How about you? Have you had an unexpected visitor that impacted your life or faith?
Sep 02, 2013 @ 23:08:08
Love this post! Unexpected visitors like angels unaware…..right? Hey, guess what friend? I finally did it! Check out my first blog post:
http://voiceofhope.net/blog
You inspired me to get going! Does that count as an unexpected messenger of faith?!
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Sep 03, 2013 @ 08:41:34
Congrats, Laura!
That’s so exciting! I’m heading over now to check it out 😉
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Aug 03, 2013 @ 21:24:03
Breast cancer is my unexpected visitor and it is teaching me all sorts of spiritual lessons.
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Aug 16, 2013 @ 05:59:26
I can only imagine your journey, Marsella -your attitude and positive outlook are no doubt serving you well right now.
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Jul 31, 2013 @ 21:50:34
wow! Wonderful story Denise. Glad that you could listen and follow your inner guidance. I re-learning to tune in. Brad
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Jul 19, 2013 @ 23:23:51
Lovely indeed. Wasn’t sure where you were heading with the drinking & tipsy and so on, but I reflect how interesting it is that one thing leads us to another.
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Jul 20, 2013 @ 11:26:42
What stood out to me was how sobering (literally) it was to know I was in God’s presence at such an unexpected time.
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Jul 19, 2013 @ 06:00:59
This is such a beautiful story, Denise. I’ve met many people whose words transform me in one way or another, which is why I love to read people’s blogs. I feel that we are here for precisely this, to touch each other.
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Jul 19, 2013 @ 06:37:55
That is so true, Yaz!
The blogging community is such an incredibly powerful and positive one.
I’m so looking forward to reading about your trip on the Camino trail!
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 18:14:55
Wow thats powerful Denise! And I love the picture your daughter took so innocently. It captures the true nature of the interaction.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 22:59:09
I was really surprised to see it on her camera later…. and very grateful I have a visual of that wonderful evening, too.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 17:24:57
Don’t ever forget that you matter. You matter to more people than you will ever know or can imagine.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 22:58:08
Thank you so much, Susanna.
We all matter, but sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of it…
Your kindess is very dear to my heart.
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Jul 19, 2013 @ 02:54:26
We tend to look for evidence to reinforce our negative self-talk and ignore the evidence that refutes. What if you spent one day just noticing every time you touch someone’s life in a positive way – and I’m sure you do all the time – how different you’d feel about that. What if you spent the day affirming to yourself how you matter to YOU? I know without a doubt that every one of us matters, has grace and talent, is beautiful and loved. Even the people that you wouldn’t ordinarily think of that way. It’s true for them. It’s most definitely true for you. I’m not being kind. I am just saying what I know to be a fact.
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Jul 19, 2013 @ 05:20:48
Wow! What a different world we’d live in if we did as you say, Susanna. You have really given me much to think about…thank you again.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 16:58:58
How wonderful, Denise. I smile at and chat with just about anyone. I sometimes wonder if a ‘hello’ or ‘how ya doing?’ with a smile attached might make someone’s day. We often don’t know how we can impact others. But just a smile and a kind word is sometimes all a person needs to see…so that their perspective and perception of “The World” is better, not worse.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 22:57:12
You are probably that unexpected visitor to many, Karen! 😉
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 16:32:52
Hi Denise, thanks for sharing that story…I always get choked up hearing about how God works in real time…so good to remember that God hears my cries and is ALWAYS at work. I can’t think at the moment of an unexpected visitor…but CAN certainly think of times when I have been so sad about circumstances and later find out that God was at work all along and that what Satan tried to use for evil turned out to be FULL of blessings, and I am very grateful and keep asking God to help me be open to the learning.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 22:56:40
He is constantly at work, isn’t He?
Thanks for reminding me of the blessings in disguise, too.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:02:57
You reminded me of a very similar situation that happened while my husband and I were on a trip across the U.S. determining whether to leave Kansas or not at a turning point in our careers. We had stopped in Colorado in a remote town that was obviously filled with what we would have termed in the 70’s, hippies. They were even wearing the Peace Symbols of yore and while we washed our clothes in a Washateria we commented to one another that we seemed to have walked back in time. Soon, a young girl of probably 22-26 yrs of age came in to wash her clothes and she had an infected wound on her upper arm that immediately alarmed me. I too had a similar looking wound to my knee years before that was near the gangrene stage. I asked her if she’d treated it with anything and she admitted she didn’t know what to do and couldn’t afford medical help. I retrieved our First Aide Kit from the car and cleaned and dressed her wound, giving her antiseptic wipes for future cleanings.
Like you, I felt the entire time as though I was in another realm, though we hadn’t drunk anything but coffee (it was early morning). We too hugged before parting and afterwards my husband and I both felt as though God had put us there for a purpose.
I hope I saved her arm, but for sure I too know I knew God was with us for others as well as for ourselves and our purpose where ever we ended up putting down roots once again.
It was soon after this Blessing that I decided I needed to write and share the wisdom I had gained over my then 52 years. Since then I’ve written and published six books, with three of the books of our Pioneer family who helped the slaves escape during the Civil War.
Thank you for sharing how the Lord works within our lives always…no matter where we are.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:34:18
What a lovely story, Kathleen!
Your kindness no doubt remains with that girl to this day.
Those who helped slaves escape in the South have always intrigued me. I’m going to look up your books online now. Thank you for telling me about them.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 07:09:14
Hi Denise: What a beautiful and heart-warming story. Thanks for sharing. I believe we can be messengers of God at times, but we have to listen closely. You did and experienced something wonderful. Shortly after my mom died, I had an encounter with a girl who I truly believe was an angel (http://peace4me521.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/daily-prompt-stranger/). She never spoke, but her actions touched me so deeply on a day when I was at my breaking point in so many ways. Take care.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:31:50
Thanks, Kathy. I’m heading over to read about your angel story now. Goose bumps ahead!
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 06:01:07
Thanks for sharing this. I just love these kind of stories, and think we need to hear more of them!
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:30:51
Thanks, Allen!
It would be nice to see headlines filled with good news stories, wouldn’t it?
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 06:00:17
Great story, Denise. It proves something I have come to believe; God encounters between people are always meant to strengthen the faith of all of those involved.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:30:20
So true, Bill. It continues to awe me whenever I reflect on that evening.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:58:19
Those kinds of moments do feel sacred. Uncommon, yet precious. Good job!
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:29:35
Precious indeed!!
Thank you…
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:34:34
This is an inspiring post.
Yes, we need to hold the faith and leave our doubts behind. As we do this, the way we see the world changes. Could it be that the wine supported you to remove self-doubts and come into communion with all that the Universe holds. This was then the beginning of your awareness of self and others. Would you agree?
Shakti
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:53:13
Hi Shakti,
I supposed it’s possible the wine could have made me more willing to go outside my comfort zone; but I know I felt fully sober once I realized there was something bigger than just me going on.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to share your thoughts.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:05:42
It is amazing what happens when we listen to a strong inner voice. You were a spiritual instrument that day. Blessings, Joanne
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:50:50
To be part of His plan is such an honor. Thanks, Joanne.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:57:11
PS. I love your blog’s new theme (Is it new? It seems so!)
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 08:27:38
It isn’t new, but I have been considering ‘freshening’ it up a bit. Thanks, Joanne!
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 04:27:07
I love it when God cracks open the door and gives us a glimpse of what He’s up to. And it’s such a privilege when he lets us be a part of it. This is a beautiful post; thank you for sharing.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:50:03
It’s so true, Diane. What an amazing privelege indeed! Sometimes I am simply astounded that He can use me this way. It really lifts me up.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 01:05:23
What a wonderful thing to happen to both you and Amber.
You both needed each other for different reasons, but there was a Greater Power behind the occurrence who gave you the words to say to her..
Thank you for sharing the story with us . . . I found it quite poignant.
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Jul 18, 2013 @ 05:48:32
Thanks, Barb. He never ceases to amaze me…I was truly blessed that day.
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