A patient shared a beautiful story with me the other day that I really wanted to share with each of you bc it encapsulates so many points about life, suffering and our struggle as human beings.

This person has been struggling with belief in higher power, in the meaning of her own person struggle with her health, and questioning her own belief in what these struggles are all about-not unlike most of us.

She had an appointment-unrelated to her illness and she attended it with her uncle. As she was trying to leave the parking lot she could not find the ten dollar bill she had in her purse. She was frantically looking through her things to find money to pay the parking attendant. As she started to realize she had not money, the parking attendant said, "don't worry, ma''am, that man over there paid for your parking." She looked up as his shadow slipped past the corner. Who was this man? Her uncle had caught a glimpse of him before he disappeared.

Her uncle had to go up to an office in the building forgetting to take care of part of their errand. When he went up there he found that the very same man who had paid for their parking was struck with his own problem. He had to pay for his bill with a credit card and not cash, which was the only thing he had to pay with.

So, the uncle took out his credit card and paid for his bill the man paid him back with the cash that he had.
The uncle asked the man, "why did you pay for our paring?". The man responded, "because every day I look around me for people in need of help. And, I do one good deed every day. I saw your niece struggling to pay the parking attendant and I paid it knowing that she couldn't. That was my good deed for today."
 
The most incredible thing is that the uncle went up to the exact same office at the exact same time that this man needed help himself only minutes after doing his good deed for the day. I dont know what words to attach to this event, God, Karma, higher power, angel spirits--but what ever it is-it seems clear that there is another force of life that is working around us. That this man did something wonderful, and was repaid only moments after, was not only for him, but, served as a message to my patient, who, herself needed some affirmation that there is an energy and meaning to everything that is larger than each of us. And, affirmation that there are reasons for everything.
 
This was one of those stories in life that hit me deeply as she shared each word. I have had many of these kinds of stories in life. And, when they happen, it is a shame for them to go unnoticed.

And, whoever that man is.....I love your philosophy!