I sometimes meet very interesting people in my job. If you come to my office, it's because you're leaving the navy, either because it's time to retire, you're simply ready to move on or, most recently, because you're being released. I may complain about what I do, about the quality of the work some of my co-workers do and about the lack of pay for the amount of work expected, but I always try to find some common ground with my customers, and I'm usually successful. By the time they leave my office, even if they are grumpy when they arrive, the customer is more often than not much happier and at ease.

Today I had a young man who is being released from the navy, even though he was planning on making it a career. He was reading a book which I asked about. The book was entitled 'Circle Maker.' He was nervous about everything going on (a whirlwind of things to do and plans to make) since he only found out about being released 2 weeks ago. As we were going over his DD214, I remebered that he had been awarded a very high medal. It was the Navy/ Marine Corps Medal. I asked him how he was awarded that. Apparently, he saw a vehicle on fire on the freeway, stopped to see if he could help, and pulled a four year old child from the fire and almost certain death. The father was already dead, but had sacrificed his own life to cover his child. I don't know all the details, but the end result was a child was saved and the sailor was awarded a life saving medal- a very big deal.

Naturally, a couple of weeks ago, he was told that he was not being retained in the service. My first reaction was, [in my best sarcastic voice] "of course, why would the navy want to keep sailors that put aside their own safety for the life of someone they don't even know?" The sailor told me he was thinking about going into the ministry, but he wasn't sure yet. "Sounds like God is helping you make that decision," I told him, to which he thanked me for verifying what he was already thinking.

After this man left my office, I started thinking about why we meet certain people. Why are specific people put on our path at specific times, seemingly when we need something, whether it be just a word of encouragement, or hope or just a pat on the back? I'm not trying to be religious, I simply felt compelled to share an experience I had today.

 

In a bizarre turn of events, my last appointment for today (2PM) was a guy that had planned on moving to Texas, had a job lined up and was ready to retire, yet changed his mind because he had decided to go into the ministry! Needless to say, I was just about floored. I've been doing this job for going on two years now and until today I hadn't had a single customer that was planning on preaching after the navy.

2 in one day. I'm still amazed. I guess it's time to stop and really listen to what's going on around me. I think I'm supposed to learn something. Anyway, I've felt really good all afternoon.

 

Events like this, especially so close together certainly can make us pause, making us stop for a moment and pondering what it all means. I'm a bit too pragmatic and tend to not think there is a reason for so many things so whether your experiences are just coincidences or truly messages from on high I too would have such questions on my mind.

I once heard: "when the student is ready............the teacher will appear......" and somehow that's always resonated with me. For a while the term soul mate" was bandied about relating mostly to romantic relationships but when the true original meaning of that term was learned it means someone comes along who is perfect for us at that particular point in our life. Could be a lover, just a warm and encouraging good friend or someone who kicks our butts into motion----just a person who inspires or pushes us forward. Those relationships can last a lifetime, a few moments or anywhere in between---they're around just long enough to have their effect and gently slip away, leaving us better for the association.

Don't rush learning the lesson---its true meaning will be revealed in due time---its just the way of the universe. If nothing else these events have caused you to think, maybe in a direction not before considered? I think our best longer term choices have come about with casual reflection over time, allowing us to see the larger picture, the up and downsides to something, the eventual choice feeling like a perfect fit.

At my advanced age of 61 the biggest thing I've learned is life is ever changing and we need to be ready for such things.

Thanks for sharing Stu----it was an interesting day!

 

I see that as fantastic, GOD knows this world needs all the help it can get.

 

Stu, reps sent. Perhaps your task was to simply share and make us all think.

 

Although I am not as "seasoned" as some of the others on this site I can say that I have had my share of moments that have made me step back and evaluate my life and things around me. Those moments, such as this one, are times when you can appreciate your life and what you have done with it, and decide where you want things to be from now on.

 

Too true.