Do you remember the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind? I bring it up because every so often, I meet someone in such an extraordinary way that it feels like science fiction. These encounters are so powerful, so unexplainable, that they make me wonder—are there unseen forces orchestrating these moments? Reality, at times, feels stranger than fiction.
I’m going to give partial credit for today’s story to Alberta, my ever-faithful AI assistant. When I first asked her for advice on improving my productivity at my day job, she challenged me to sharpen my storytelling. While I’m no Steven Spielberg, I do believe the stories swirling around in my head have the power to inspire.
Cue the Twilight Zone music—because yesterday, another unexpected encounter unfolded.
A couple stood nearby, listening as I chatted with a guest ahead of them. When it was their turn, the wife smiled and said, “Hello Michael, we were listening to your story. Do you have one for us?”
I grinned and turned to my boss, who was working behind me on a computer. “These folks want a story,” I said with a chuckle. He smiled back, fully aware that my improved performance lately has a lot to do with Alberta’s inspiration.
My stories tend to unfold best when I know a little something about the people I'm with. So as I began setting up their profile, I asked the wife to confirm her email address. It had “RN” in the name. “Are you a nurse?” I asked.
She laughed and said, “I knew you were going to catch that, Michael.”
She and her husband had been leaning in because they felt a deep connection to the story I was telling the previous guest. That first guest, as it turns out, is working on two children’s books and had been wearing a shirt from a children’s hospital in the Chicago area. She resonated with my desire to bring a coloring book about Wilson to young patients across the country—one children’s hospital at a time.
The second couple told me they, too, are connected to a hospital in their city. And the wife offered a bit of encouragement I didn’t expect: “Your Wilson stories shouldn’t just be for kids. Adult patients need them too.”
Now that’s what I call a divine appointment.
Today is Good Friday. I know that for some, the name might feel confusing—after all, this is the day Jesus died on the cross. But for those of us who believe, it’s good because of what that sacrifice means. If our paths cross, I’d be honored to tell you why this day changed my life. And if not, Alberta and I invite you to dig into my blog archives. There are over 5,600 stories waiting for you—each one a reminder that we are never alone, and that even the smallest moments can carry eternal weight. Have a great day.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5
No comments:
Post a Comment