“The universe is limitless, abundant, and strangely accommodating.”
Pam Grout
One day last Summer, I had arranged to go to an evening meeting after work in downtown Portland, Maine.
I arrived early, so after I had found a parking spot in the Old Port, I walked around my favourite part of the city, just enjoying the evening hustle and bustle, looking in shop windows, and trying to find the source of all the ice cream cones I saw people holding. Even after asking for directions, I still couldn’t find any ice cream, so I decided just to sit on a bench and enjoy people-watching before heading to the meeting.
I hadn’t been sitting long when a random guy came up to me and handed me his parking stub. “It’s still got time on it,” he said. “I don’t need it anymore.” I had already paid for my parking, so I didn’t need it, but I had learned to accept gifts when they are offered, so I thanked the man and continued watching the world go by.
A few minutes later, I saw a man in convertible sports car parallel park in an impossibly tiny parking space. I was being judgemental about how little room he was leaving for the two cars next to him, but I was impressed he’d been able to park there at all. He got out of his car and headed to the nearest parking meter.
After a while, I noticed that impossible-parking-man was still standing at the parking meter. He seemed to be struggling. So I took a chance and walked up to him.
He told me he was late for a meeting and the meter wasn’t working. He only needed a ticket to cover 45 minutes until city parking would be free for the rest of the evening. Guess how much time was left on the stub I’d been given!
And so it came to pass that I was the middle-man for this guy’s pre-answered miracle. It was fascinating to watch it unfold in front of me. Who knows if he actually asked for assistance, but assistance arrived anyway, and it arrived early! Now that’s impressive.
Louise x
