Missing the signs

You know that scene in Bruce Almighty where Bruce is driving along asking God for a sign and there are all these neon and traffic signs along the road telling him what he needs to know but he doesn’t recognise the signs as imminently relevant to him? I often think of that scene… And today for extra reason.

Today I did something that reaches something close to the pinnacle of ditzyest kinds of things I’ve ever done and all the way along there were signs that I missed.

I had a folder of papers to take miss 13 to the bank and afterward went to the ladies room. I put it down thinking “must not forget. Must not forget”. And forgot.

Sign number one. Nothing in my hands when leaving.

Went to KMart where we were served by one of Miss 13’s friends who told us she had heard our name over the PA system. It made no sense and I didn’t try to figure it out.

Sign number two.

Got in car looking forward to the rest of our day, speaking of having been to the bank.

Didn’t notice absent folder. Sign number three.

Spent our day and got a call later at Harbour Town letting me know someone had found the folder and handed it in.

Sign number four which changes tack. The first three signs are either signs that Heather is a forgetful ditz. Or that my subconscious was trying to tell me something. Or that God was whispering but my head was too busy to pay attention.

Sign four certainly got it. God was paying attention where I wasn’t and enabled this folder to be safe.

Sign five – Mr 17 was nearby and able to go and collect it.

Sign six – Miss R at the desk is known to our family 🙂 so I felt as though the folder had been is super special safe keeping all day.

Sign seven is that Heather needs to pay closer attention to the things she does and/or make some new strategies to catch herself on future possible similar disasters.

Sign eight is that Someone Else was paying attention better than I was myself. He doesn’t always save us from the consequences of our own creation but today for me , He did.

And I am so very grateful.

Mirroring

“Sowing judgement for judgement” is a phrase a friend used in conversation many years ago. It’s one I’ve thought of a great many times since then – when I either watch or find myself in situations where that is the temptation. You know the ones… Where instead of going a distance beside the other, to discover what they think and why, we arc against something and often never are aware that all we’ve done is mirror judgement back. Love when what seems like a throwaway comment impacts both thought and action so deeply.