A Kind Gentlemen

I want to share something with you that happened to me today to prove that we are all one. On the surface it may appear no big deal, but in my mind it was God's gentle way of reminding me to hold fast to my dreams.

I was sitting in Panera Bread this morning with my laptop, hashing through what are now the last 100 or so pages of my manuscript while waiting for my son who was volunteering with the Alphas. First of all, let me tell you it was simply a gorgeous morning here in my parts of the woods and I was so grateful for the opportunity to have some quiet time to myself. Anyway, I had been there for almost an hour and a half when this nicely dressed gentleman and his daughter came and sat at the table next to me. When they arrived, it was lunchtime and the restaurant, which earlier only had a few patrons now found itself packed wall to wall with folk.

I was deeply engrossed in the manuscript, proud of myself for staying focused for as long as I had, when from the corner of my eye, I noticed this gentleman staring at me. I looked up and smiled. He asked if I were studying and I told him I was working on a manuscript. He proceeded to ask me how long I had been working on it and I shyly told him about thirteen years. I felt compelled to explain that each time I had stuffed the manuscript in a drawer, the characters would beckon me to come back and get them so that I could tell their stories, so I felt obligated to comply. He laughed and indicated he'd heard other authors say the same thing. He asked me what the story was about and I explained that it was about a man that had come home to find that his wife of ten years had left him. I told him the entire premise of this story is how we really don't listen to one another and how we sometimes hide our true selves from others. He appeared fascinated and then asked me the title of the book. When I told him what it was, (Listening To The Silence), he said it was a great title.

He asked me several more questions and I was happy to answer them, and even thanked him for caring enough to ask. When he and his daughter left, and we said our good-byes, I felt a new found pride in myself. He reminded me of how awesome it was that I was doing what I loved. He also reminded me that we are all one, and that God is ever present, ever encouraging us to have faith in ourselves and our dreams. That gentleman will never know how he touched me and encouraged me and affirmed me, just by showing an interest in what I was doing. I didn't get a chance to thank him, but I will always remember the example he set and apply it in my own life. I will remember to genuinely show an interest in others and listen to what they are saying. How ironic...there I was writing about listening and this gentleman exhibited my point. And who could believe there is no God?

Take care of yourself and one another,
Marina