ForLife: God & His Mysterious Ways

So I was scheduled for a trip to Ireland on June 18th but had decided to stick around on Guam a couple of extra days to catch a very rare summer west swell on Guam. Not only was I lucky enough to catch 3days of some pretty good surf with video to prove. In between that while checking the waves of a highly favored StandUpPaddle Spot, I ran into a lady with her dog who looked to be really taking in the view while walking the beach. After extending a friendly Hafa Adai and brief conversation-she continued on her way. I noticed the waves were good and had begun to rush back to my vehicle to make an immediate go for the waves when that same lady offered 20dollars for a ride to the airport.( which was just 7minutes away)

Though I was in a rush to surf, I gladly declined the 20dollars and decided to drive the lady to the airport for what I thought was supposed to be the beginning of a brief vacation. As it turned out she had just been visitng Guam to say a final goodbye to her old friends who had been on their death beds and fell in love with the island so her two weeks in Guam turned into 10months. The conversatiosurprising ly unfolded that she was on a 3month tour throughout the Continental United States. After her lifetime of travel she had wanted to close this last leg before she died…which turned out o be scheduled by a doctor for around early October…Just over 3months away.

It didn’t take long to realize that, even at only 54years old, she was dying and wanted to give life and living another chance. Even on her last legs, She was set out to do what she always wanted to do in life and wanted to go out gloriously. Within that 6minute conversation on the beach and that 7minute ride to the airport—it only took 12minutes to speak of world travel, life lessons, and faith in the man upstairs and to share a big hug that would make somebody think we were old friends. Upon our final goodbye she read a sticker on the vehicle window tha read “GoodVibrations” …and her last words to me were “Is that the best way to get a hold of you?” As I could see that she had no tiome for formalities and wanted to be on her way, I answered back “Yes..just send it out to the Universe and I’ll find a way to catch it. ”

Just a few days ago and I guess I already did.

My new date to leave for Ireland was scheduled for June 21st. Deciding to go for a bicycle workout just an hour and a half before heading to the airport—I ended up crashing into a pile of broken glass and metal on the last 3minutes of the workout, with lacerations next to my eye, my shoulder and a totally gnarly gash on my pinky. Needing to go for stitches—I had to postpone my flight to the next day. Travelers relying on airline space-availability are at the mercy of what we call “theStargates”. If I had traveled on the 21st, I would’ve made as far as to Newark but would’ve been turned around at the gate to Ireland because the plane was full and would’ve joined the rest of the Stargaters on areroute to Canada. Well as it turns out traveling on the 22nd instead was a better choice. So here I am on the plane..on my way to Ireland..on deck to catch The UK/Ireland BJJ Championships today and the ASkate event tomorrow—because I wanted to surf and because I got into a bike crash—thinking profoundly of how God does work in mysterious ways.

As for the lady with the dog—I never did get her name. Or if I did I forgot it. All I can recall is that her dog’s name was “Daisy”. Well she’s on her journey now, best friend by her side,and hoping and trusting that on this journey—in his often mysterious ways, God will do similar for her.

GoodVibrations for Life and Living.