After recording episode 56, I needed some fresh air and sunshine.
I have an electric scooter that I love to ride. It takes me back to being a kid…..wind in your hair, sunshine on your face. It brings a smile to me every time.
So I headed to a local park. I just wanted to put my feet in the grass and ground.
As I was entering the park, I passed two older ladies sitting in chairs and a young man dressed in pants, a button-down shirt, and a tie.
That felt… off for a park.
Next to him was a stand with pamphlets that said “AWAKE” in big letters.
The whole scene felt weird.
In my previous life, I probably would have stopped. Maybe to see what it was about. Maybe even to argue my point about how religion divides.
But I’m learning something now.
Leave people where they are.
In their lessons. In their season. In their life.
Because God works differently in all of us, and it’s not my place to interfere.
I’m in the business of staying aligned with God, not playing God.
I rode around the park, looking at the pond, the ducks, the people, the dogs, just enjoying everything.
Normally I’d bring a chair and a book and sit by the pond, but this time I didn’t want to.
So I sat on a bench in the middle of the park.
No book. No clock. No agenda.
Just being.
People passed by. Smiles, pleasantries, dogs sniffing my feet.
I had been there a while and thought, it’s getting hot, I should go.
There was no loud direction that day… just a quiet nudge to stay.
A few minutes later, an elderly couple came walking by.
The man walked a few steps ahead of the woman, who I assumed was his wife. He greeted me warmly, and she followed with the same energy.
They were adorable.
She noticed my scooter immediately. Her eyes lit up.
She said something to her husband in their native language, and he began asking me questions about it.
I explained it was electric and easy to ride.
Then I looked at her and said, “Do you want to try it?”
Her answer was a very enthusiastic yes.
We helped her onto the scooter. She moved forward slowly, cautiously, turned around awkwardly, and came back with the biggest smile on her face.
In that moment, I saw something.
I saw exactly how my heart feels when I ride my scooter.
Pure joy.
It was like watching a child experience something new for the first time. It was beautiful.
We stood there talking about their life, their kids, education, what’s happening in Iran, their homeland.
We talked about people, about division, about connection.
They felt like kindred spirits.
Then she said my favorite words, “You should come visit us and eat with us.”
What?!
She followed it with, “If you like different food.”
I almost said, “Does a bear shit in the woods?” And honestly… in that moment, I was the bear.
We exchanged numbers, hugged, and just like that, I had an invitation to the home of Iraj and Sima.
And honestly… that just felt right.
There was a part of me that felt like this moment was bigger than just coincidence, like something was being given to me.
Later that day, I texted them to say thank you. I also gave a little shoutout to co-creator God for that meeting.
Because something clicked for me.
When I passed the people at the front of the park, the ones with the pamphlets and formal clothes, my body told me those are not your people. I wasn’t aligned there.
But when this couple approached me, before they even spoke, I felt it.
My body relaxed. I smiled.
Something in me said, these are your people.
Maybe that alignment was only meant for that moment. Maybe it will be longer. I don’t know.
But what I do know is this.
I don’t have to force connections.
I don’t have to fix people.
I don’t have to engage with everything.
I can let people be exactly who they are and trust that God will align me with the people meant to cross my path, whether it’s for a moment, a season, or a lifetime.