As I left yoga class, I noticed an elderly lady in her eighties with two bags and a cane exerting a great deal of effort to get from the side of the street up to the curb of the sidewalk. Heading to my car, I kept my eye on her as she stood on the sidewalk, looking around, appearing confused. She didn’t respond to my first offer of help as I walked towards her. When I asked again, I had trouble understanding her response. There was a language barrier among other things.
I gathered that she did not have a ride home after her doctor’s appointment, didn’t have anyone to call, and didn’t feel comfortable taking the bus. At least that’s what I think she said. When I again asked her how I could help her, she asked for a ride home. I helped her into my car, at which point she gave me her address. There was no one to call to let them know she was heading home, she responded when I asked. I feared there was a daughter or another family member somewhere nearby getting concerned about where she was.
We set off on the 20-minute ride. (I put my inner Masshole tendencies aside and drove slowly and cautiously, to avoid causing her additional stress.) She prayed out loud most of the way, something that has never happened in my car. Given my high level of conscientious driving, I hoped her prayers weren’t because of my driving. 🙂 A while later, I realized they weren’t.
Still Alice fresh in my mind, I thought this was going to be the first of many stops. Maybe this is where she lived years ago? To my surprise, not only did the address exist, but also her key slid perfectly into the two locks. I couldn’t see anyone inside, just a coffee table full of prescription medications. I placed her bags in the house as she repeated, God bless you. As I turned to leave I’m fairly certain I heard a guttural cry of relief from inside.
A few moments later, I was back on the busy highway headed home, when out of no where, the car in front of me swerved to the left, to the right and back in front of me as it fishtailed into a complete stop. I slammed my brakes and in the rearview mirror saw a large truck a few inches behind me doing the same. Those moments in life are eerie. They last a few moments but feel like an eternity. I knew I was about to get sandwiched between a car and a truck. There was no way I could stop in time. Insurance claims, injuries and more were just a few seconds away.
The next thing I knew, my car came to a full stop. So did the truck behind me. There was no crash, bump or even tap. No contact at all. In shock, I couldn’t explain what happened. It didn’t make sense. I’d been hit before – going slower speeds with longer stopping distances. Then I remembered my elderly friend. Did all of her prayers in my car and her farewell blessings somehow protect me in this situation? I felt certain they had. It felt like a miracle in which she played a key role. A seemingly helpless individual just helped me more than I helped her. While her physical abilities weren’t strong, her ability to assist on a higher level remained stronger than ever.
To me, she is additional proof that our intentions, thoughts, prayers and blessings can help, and even save, others. My elderly friend, I believe, was thanking me for my support through her prayers and blessings. Ironically, the way we ended yoga class a few minutes before I met her was by singing a Farewell Blessing (see image) in which we first send light to ourselves, then to loved ones, and then to the universe. I certainly gave and received my blessings for the day.
Who do you know that could use some blessings today? Don’t try to control the outcome…just set the intention, say the blessing, think the thought. Hold a positive space for yourself, your loved ones, and anyone else in need. Wait for a miracle.
FYI for those concerned about her well-being…I called the police to do a well check on her later in the day. She was at home, where she lives alone, and was determined to be OK living there.
