Saturday evening. I’m driving up to Big Book Step Study West Hartford where I have the technical committment for current cycle. Chatting away, as usual, on the phone with a fellow traveler (LOL), another call comes in. It’s Sharon, beautiful Sharon. “I’ll call her back in a minute” I said to myself. As I ended the call I was on, suddenly and literally out of no where, Spirit says “Call Shirley”. Now, I adore Shirley (I call her my Shirley girl). This woman held my hand through my first 3 years of sobriety. I was a frightened, lonely, confused, sad, desperate, newcommer having no idea how to live (really), let alone stay sober. She was my first real friend and she was the first woman I ever authentically trusted. Sadly, contact with her had gradually dwindled to about once a year, if that, over the last 5 years or so. So I replied to Spirit “I’ll call her in a minute, after I call Sharon back.” Spirit emphatically insisted “Call Shirley now.” “Ok, ok, ok!!” I said…I called Shirley.
She answered, “Brenda?”
“Shirley Girl!!!!” I bellowed
“I can’t believe your calling me!” she said
“Why?” I replied.
Shirely explained “I haven’t been to a meeting in 3 years. I’ve basically been going to work, the grocery store, and home. Nothing more. My sisters dragged me to West Farms Mall in West Hartford (hmm, that’s where I’m headed) today to get me out of the house. We just had lunch and my fortune cookie said ‘Someone dear from your past will be calling you’ and you called!”
Goosebumps… “Of course” I thought. “That’s how Spirit works”. Shirley and I reconnected spiritually that day. Speaking to her brought back for me all the love I had felt for her and still do.
I rarely have any idea at all why Spirit directs me to do these things in the moment it asks me to do them but it is always clear after it’s done. I don’t ignore these messages any more when I get them. They are real and produce miracles. A miracle moment for me and for Shirley that day awakened our spiritual love for one another, our connection, and our faith.
We remain in touch.
-Brenda H
