Hotline to God

I am a very spiritual person and hope this blog does not offend anyone. I am puzzled by atheists... I've seen so many things in my life that I just have absolutely no doubt God exists.

Setting that aside, I'm a practical person. If I live a good life and find out there is no heaven, oh well...I lived a good life and was good to others. But to not believe and then find out there is a heaven??

So my post One Good Turn had me thinking about other times I prayed and BOOM, it was answered.

One was rather simple. I was shooting a t.v. show. We were five weeks into a six week run...which meant I was tired. Lots of long hours. It was 6 a.m. and I was driving on the 101 fwy in heavy but fast traffic. Only I was so exhausted, I couldn't hold my head up. I was drifting in and out and realized I was going to hurt myself or someone else. After pinching myself, trying to sing loud and slapping my face, I could not seem to snap out of it. So, I prayed... God, I need to wake up NOW! And just that fast, I was WIDE awake.

The other story is far more impressive. The dog trainer I frequently hired has a party for producers and other industry friends every summer at their ranch in Lake Hughes, about an hour north of LA. I had driven up, had some barbeque, played with may favorite critters and started to head home. Rob, my host, reminded me to stop on the drive down the mountain and check out the views of the lakes (Hughes & Elizabeth).

I'm a sucker for a great view especially where water is involved. When I reached a turnout along the mountain road, I pulled over to the edge parked the car and, out of habit, locked it. I hadn't seen another car in the 20 minute drive from Rob's and there was nothing around... why lock the car???

And immediately I knew my keys were inside. I start having vision of being raped or killed and drug off into the wilderness. I was so upset, I was shaking. So I started to pray. It went something like this:

"God, I'm in a pickle here. And I'm terrified. I need you to send your angels to me. I need your protection and guidance. God, I'm going to have to flag someone down and there aren't too many cars on this road. So, I'm asking that the person I flag down be someone I'm comfortable with and can trust to help me and get me home. I love you and thank you."

My prayer had made me still and calmed me slightly. As soon as I stopped praying, I heard a car. I looked around for a stick or some kind of weapon just in case and decided sand in the eyes would be a good option if I felt threatened. I walked closer to the road to be seen and started waving my arms. My heart sank when I realized there were two men in the truck. I'm pretty feisty but wasn't sure I could handle two bad guys.

They rolled down the window and I explained what I had done. They chuckled and parked their car. The driver said he thought he had a coat hanger behind his seat. As the two men opened their doors, they were talking about a movie and I knew immediately they were in the business. I asked where they worked. It was a post production house in Burbank...one I used all the time. I quickly realized I had talked to the driver on the phone the day before! He was editing the sound on my last commercial!

My car door was quickly opened and I was on my way in minutes and marveling at how fast and how specifically my prayer was answered. (And by the way - that was the wrong turnout...no view of water, just more mountains!)

But, not all prayers are answered with such speed... there was one I prayed for 37+ years. Don't have much hope for that one!

One Good Turn

I was reading Sunflower Optimism's post about making a difference in the world by starting with those around you which made me think of this story.

A few years ago, I was walking my dog Maggie. We were new to this neighborhood. I had found a few streets I liked to walk (this was before I discovered my creek.) but Maggie, as always, had her own opinion. She preferred to hike up the street and down this tiny road full of snarling big dogs.

I just don't like to work that hard walking the dog. My daily walks are a spiritual time for me. I get lost in my thoughts and yes, I talk to God.

This particular day was no different. Maggie had won that morning's "argument" and we had made it down the tiny road with very little fuss. Knowing that the rest of the walk would be easy, I was praying.

I asked God for the opportunity to help someone that day. As fast as I said that prayer, whizzing around the corner comes this car making a horrible racket. It was being driven by a very small, older woman with a look of sheer terror on her face.

I knew immediately that she had no idea what was wrong with her car...but I did!

As she drove toward us, it was very plain to see...she had a paint bucket stuck under her car. And the metal on concrete was making a horrendous noise.

I held my hand up for her to stop. She rolled down her window, talking a mile a minute. I asked her to put it in park, tied Mags to a fence and crawled under the car and removed the can. This lady was SO grateful.

And that has to be the fastest one of my prayers was ever answered!

So-- we all have opportunities every day to make a tiny difference to someone... It may be a tiny thing to us but it might mean the world to someone else.