It was a sunny day, and I needed fresh air and a break from paperwork, so I walked to a sweet event called the Art of Gardening. Mind you, our yard is a postage stamp, and we do not have room for much, but it was a sunny day, remember? And browsing is always good.
When I got there, I felt an immediate tug to a booth of plants and herbs, and then saw what I apparently was there to buy: Lilly of the Valley, or muguet in French. The wee fragrant potted flower called to me: "Buy me for Laura, s'il vous plaît. May 1 is just around the corner." In France, people gift each other with muguet on this national holiday. I loved when I discovered this fact a year ago, and bought her one then as well, but I remembered she was about to move--maybe a new baby for her new home?
At home, I found a cheerful yellow pot that cradled the plant beautifully. On the appointed day, I snuck up to her office at the Center for Happiness, and left it behind with a note" "Happy Spring!"
Later, I listened to a phone message from her that was barely audible over her sobbing: "I was ok, and then I saw this. Thank you so much..." It seems that this was a much needed emotional damn-breaker, as she was handling being between homes, as well as some homesickness for her native country. You can read her side of the story here: http://lauralavigne.com/2014/05/immunization-has-failed/.
I tell you this as an example of how following guidance often leads to lovely or empowering or dramatic or healing or incredible results. Guidance: It can be slap-upside-the-head-strong or a quiet knowing with little fanfare. Either way, it works if we pay attention to it. I've been guided to my destiny, my husband, my life's work, and all the towns I've lived in as an adult. For instance....
Over 30 years ago, when I was visiting Seattle on a whim because I was done with living in Chicago, guidance came through after a pleading and bargaining session with God. While on the bus taking me to the airport and back to the town I wanted to leave, I begged: "Dear God, I love it here, but I can't find a job to keep me here. if you just give me a sign that I'm meant to live in Seattle, I promise I will not argue with You. Really. All I ask for is a sign..." From a couple seated in front of me came a fragment of a chat: "Go to Seattle University..." I was crazy enough to take this as a sign, ran to the front of the bus, asked for directions to Seattle U, and found myself standing on the corner of the campus, fully knowing "There is a job for me here."
Found the personnel office, and said to the woman at the front desk (who had an air of authority to her):
"Hello, my name is Elke, and I'm currently the Assistant Director of Admissions at DePaul University. Do you have any positions open?" She eyed me carefully: "My name is so and so, and I am the Director of Personnel. Are you applying for the Graduate Admissions Coordinator job?" "Yes." "Do you have a resume' on you?" "No but here is my experience...." and I explained my work up til that time. "Hmm, "she said, "You actually sound perfect for this job, but I'm afraid we are down to 2 final candidates and we are about to hire. But....the actual due date for applications is this Friday...."
This was Wednesday. This was 1983; no faxes, no internet. I made her promise she would not hire anyone until she saw my resume, said goodbye and hurried to catch my flight.
My boyfriend at the time happened to be the director of Technology for Standard Oil, and he kindly helped me assemble a resume, which I Fed-Ex'ed to Seattle. Got a call Friday, interview Monday, and hired for the job that would bring me to the rest of my destiny.
Here's the trick: You have to trust guidance.. And in order to trust guidance, you have to trust yourself. In order to trust yourself, you have to trust that you are guided...its kind of circular that way. Yet once you trust, you will be guided to your greatest good.
Blessing your divinely guided journey, Elke