The Voice of God
So there I am, minding my own business as usual, when a thought pops into my head.
“It’s time to retire from teaching yoga now.”
I know this voice well. It’s the voice of God, a name I’ve given it because this voice always has my highest good in mind, whether I like it or not. It pops in when I least expect it, usually advising me on something I’m not thinking about. Like the time I was set to drive the back way home from a friend’s house. Cornell Road was a dark winding road that connected Rock Creek to Hillsboro and was always a favorite joyride.
“Do NOT go that way.”
This was not a suggestion and it most certainly was not up for debate. God was definitive, and accompanied by the hairs going up on the back of my neck, I simply obeyed and went home via the brightly lit highway. I never received a confirmation of God’s edict that night; did something creepy happen along that stretch that I avoided? It’s hard to prove a negative, but other times I have known the outcome.
Like the time I was about to be swindled by someone I loved. The stakes were high and I still shudder thinking what would have happened had God not spoken to me and this deception allowed to run its course. As always, my mind was elsewhere when the message came through:
“Theresa, you are about to be fleeced out of tens of thousands of dollars. Call the bank and ask for an investigation.”
I didn’t believe God. I kept driving and tried to put God on mute. Undeterred, God spoke again, only this time louder:
“Theresa, you are about to be fleeced out of tens of thousands of dollars. Call the bank and ask for an investigation.”
I had absolutely no basis to claim foul play. The idea of calling to make a serious accusation because God, the voice in my head, told me to, made me squirm. I kept driving, still ignoring. Then God got pissed:
“THERESA, YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE FLEECED OUT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. CALL THE GOD DAMN BANK NOW AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION.”
God used his name in vain so I called the bank and got a receptive ear. With no data or documentation on my end, data and documentation were discovered by the receptive banker on the other end. Indeed, I was about to be duped out of a lot of money, and I stopped it.
These days it doesn’t take three messages from God for me to get on it. However I can and do ask questions. Regarding the pronouncement that I retire, I asked in my best snarky teenage voice:
“But what am I going to do, get a J- O- B-?”
I have been self-employed almost my entire adult life. The exception was working for Macy’s when I took a sabbatical five years ago (I wrote about this in “After 27 Years Teaching Yoga, I got a Job at the Mall.” ). When I think of what I’m qualified for outside of planet yoga I don’t readily come up with much. God was unfazed.
“Yes, get a job.”
“Oh, like what? I don’t want to be a receptionist.”
“Apply at Sky Nursery.”
And with that turn of the kaleidoscope, fragments fell into place revealing an obvious picture, and here I am. I’ve taken a few days off from spelunking in my front yard to start my new retirement job as seasonal help at Sky Nursery, something I’ve always wanted to do.
Now why didn’t I think of that?
©Theresa Elliott, All Rights Reserved