Ordinary Day - Extraordinary Moment
My girlfriend, Minnie, phoned me on Saturday and invited me to take a ride with her to the mall. Not having anything on my agenda, I agreed. Before reaching the highway, we stopped at a car wash for a quick clean-up of the vehicle. As I walked into the customer waiting area, I noticed a beautiful woman sitting on the sofa. She turned to me and smiled. We greeted one another and I asked if she would mind me sitting next to her. With genuine warmth, she immediately said please sit and introduced herself; her name is Sareda.
Within the first minute of conversation, we realized that we live in close proximity to one another. She also added that she is originally from Somali. I said I would always remember her name since it is so similar to my grandson. She shared parts of her life with me, specifically how passionate she is about raising awareness and concern for human rights; to do this, Sareda mentioned that she travels all over the world, speaking at many universities.
Doing a quick search on my phone, I suddenly realized I had heard of her! Looking back up at her, I said, “Oh my gosh—you are amazing!” Falling into this stranger’s arms, I couldn’t help myself… I told her that I loved her. She responded by saying that she loved me too, and, at that point, Minnie came through the door. I’m sure she thought I was the oddest person to be hugging someone I had just met, let alone telling her that I loved her!
I introduced Minnie to Sareda and I began to share all that we had been busily discussing. In addition to being a human rights activist, I learned that she was also a feminist writer who raises awareness on issues of human rights through short stories. Some of her works include Magic Spell and Against Pleasure Principle, which have appeared in several anthologies. With endless accolades to discuss, we talked for about 20 minutes. Sareda also shared that her beloved son had passed, and then she invited us over for tea. When I heard this, I felt so comforted—and connected—as though our meeting this grieving woman was surely not by coincidence.
After the mall, per Sareda request Minnie and I stopped at her home to have some tea. We shared each other’s company a while longer and prayed for Sareda’s comfort in the recent passing of her son who left behind a wife and 2 children . Before departing Sareda’s home, she told us that she had asked God that morning to send her angels of comfort. also said that she had never gone to that car wash before—where we met—but that her navigation system took her on a different route and she did not know why. It was absolutely a special moment; and for me, a visual experience and living-proof example of what the unfolding of God’s love looks like. You just have to be present for it…I felt so comforted—and connected—as though our meeting this grieving woman was surely not by coincidence. (Continue on next page)
by Saffron Trust