Soul Magic

JESUS IN THE LIBRARY
by David McLaughlan

Did you know Jesus reads in Irvine Library? Honest, I saw him there.

I had arranged a table in a quiet corner where I hoped to get some work done, but a thick head was making things really slow, leaving me wide open to distraction.

Glancing around, I saw a man reading at another table. He had a book in one hand and an open, well thumbed Bible beside him. Every so often he turned to it to reference something.

To my other side was a man I took, at first glance, to be a thug. He was reading a comic book and had tattoos on the back of his neck. He glanced at the man with the Bible, muttered something to himself and went back to his comic.

Partly from curiosity and partly to avoid actually doing any work I kept an eye on these two to see what would happen next. I considered the possibility of a fight and would I get in between them?

The thug kept glancing at the man with the Bible. Finally he slammed his book down and got off his stool. He walked straight to the man with the Bible.

“I’ve got problems,” he said. “Can I ask you about them?”

“Sure,” the man with the Bible said and he indicated a chair. “Sit down.”

Two ordinary men, one in his early forties, the other a few years younger, sat and did what Scottish men rarely do without a pint – they talked.

The thug told of his problems with drink and anger. The man with the Bible nodded, saying he’d been there. When the thug talked about how he’d damaged his family the man with the Bible talked about a woman and a child he’d lost through his own failings. He told how he’d found “Beautiful Jesus Christ” and started re-building his life. He told how drink, alcohol and anger were real demons. And the thug leaned ever closer over the table, as if he sensed a safe place and longed to be closer.

It would have been rude of me to ear-wig throughout the whole conversation, so I got up to leave. Besides, just being that close to love in action was filling me up. I had to fight back the tears and leave, because I really needed, there and then, to let that feeling out, to do something good, to pass that feeling on. And I did. But that’s another story.

So, I said a silent “thank you” to two brave men and the Spirit that moved them. One man was brave enough to wear his faith like a badge and take in a stranger for the asking, the other man knew he was losing a battle but was brave enough to ask a stranger for help.

It occurred to me that often we think these disguises we wear are who we really are, but when we put them aside for a while we find there’s something else – and we’re none of us strangers.

— © David McLaughlan of Scotland

To see more of this beautiful world through David's eyes, visit Wayfarer's Tales at http://www.myspace.com/wayfarerstales

A NOTE from Jeanette: I just love this story from David because I could really relate to it. I think we all can.

We’ve all been the witness of amazing acts of kindness. We’ve been both the one to ask for help and the one to offer it. What continues to leave me in awe is how God works in such mysterious ways.

He reaches out to us and speaks to us in whatever way will get our attention and help us understand.

Sometimes that’s through Jesus. Sometimes it’s through Buddha. I’ve encountered it with Jewish teachings, Ayurveda teachings, the Tao, Confucianism, Roman and Greek mythology, the Qabalah, metaphysics, and Native American wisdom. I’ve experienced God speaking through human beings, angels, spirit guides, power animals, living pets and nature. When we need the message, God finds a way into our hearts so that we can hear Him. And we can hear the Love we need to transform our lives and the lives of others when asked for help.

How we connect and relate to God isn’t as important as actually doing so. Finding that Light, Love, Peace and Wisdom within ourselves can literally change – and quite often save – our lives!

If you’ve felt like something is missing, and you’re not sure what, I encourage you to reach out and find a way to connect. Seek the wisdom of the ages. Ask God to speak to you in a way you’ll understand. Ask for a spiritual mentor to help you. As they say, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Be open to the inner promptings of your soul. Know that you are worthy and as much a child of God as any other being.

And if your connection is already strong, when the opportunity arises for you to help another plug in, please ask God to help you do so with love and compassion… and to remove all judgments and ego as you lift another up to help them find their own Inner Light.

God is everywhere. In the Library. At work. At home. In the grocery store. In you. In me. How blessed we are that He moves us in such mysterious ways!

For more Soul Magic visit: http://www.sfpnn.com/soul_magic.htm