I was raised Catholic and went through the Catholic school system for 10 years. There came a point, probably around my 1st year of college, that I started questioning my beliefs and wondered what I really thought. Anyhow, this story takes place in Georgia. I couldn't really tell ya where, somewhere on the outskirts of Atlanta. 

A day or so before, we had a run-in with the law that resulted in my girlfriend getting evicted from her apartment (The Travelling Shirt Story). We were determined to get to Glenns Falls for the Halloween show, even though we were hoveled as hell, and the 62' VW that we were travelling in was giving us problems as usual. It was a grey overcast fall day when we set out. 

We just had some work done on the bus, and we were getting ready to get back on the road after a couple of days of being stuck in this little country town. We pulled into a CIRCLE K convienent store/gas station to gas up and check on the engine. It was sputtering and sounded pretty bad. I think I should mention at this point that My girlfriend, this Bro and I decided to try this L that we had with us, it was really clean 'Family' stuff, so needless to say- WOW!!! 

Anyhow, some of the guys had the hatch up and were inspecting the engine. A couple of the sisters from the escort that we were caravaning with at the time went inside the store to get some hot water for tea. This older, gray-haired man, probably in his sixties, came over to take a look at the van. He said he was a mechanic and didn't live far and was going to go home to get his tools. We told him how we appreciated his help and waited for his return. 

In the meantime, this woman coming out of the store walked up to us and kicked us down $20. This was a blessing cause in both rides, we only had enough money to get gas one more time. We thanked her profusely, and she left. The girls went inside to by some lunch meat and bread (this was before I was VEGGIE) so we could all eat something. 

Soon the older gentleman returned and began working on the VW. As he began working, these two guys coming out of the store drove up in this pick-up truck and handed me an envelope saying, "I think you dropped this," and drove off. I looked inside and found about an eighth of some commercial. Well, about this point the three of us started to spin pretty good. 

All this was happening so fast, and we all just kept looking at each other in disbelief. Here we are in the south, expecting to get the strange looks and discriminating treatment that we had been used to, and all these stereotypes that we were holding came toppling down. We were recieving nothing but kindness. The gentleman said that we needed some part and that he was going to go back to his house again and try to locate this part. 

In the interim, the lady that had given us the twenty drove back up and kicked us $40 more. This was too much to handle. I know some of you are probably thinking ya right, and I almost don't blame you... it was hard for me to grasp at the time. We had been through so much, good and bad, and it all culminated on this day. We thanked her again and gave her love, and at this time the older mechanic returned once again. He fiddled around for a bit and we were up and running. 

It was at this point he bestowed upon us some of his wisdom. He told us that he had prayed to Jesus on the way back to his house the last time. "Ya see I never keep parts lying around for cars that I don't work on anymore. But I prayed that I had the part you needed, knowing I need to help you guys. Well, sure enough, the 1st box I looked in had the part you needed." He wished us well and was off, vanishing like the angel that he was. 

The three of us, who were spun on all this LOVE and ENERGY, moved to the other side of the van. This was the moment that sums up 'god' (or, as I like to call it, FOREVER ONENESS-Marlo Morgan) to me: the sky had parted and the sun shown down upon us from its previous overcast state. I was utterly speechless, and a tear came to my eyes. I was filled with the most incredible energy I had ever felt and KNEW that nothing could harm us; the cards were on our side from there on out. 

The moral being, when you are completely down and out and begin to think that nothing good can come out of it, take a step back, notice the wonder about you, and give thanks for all that you DO have. The universe will always provide, all ya gotta have is FAITH!!! Also, we must all work on relearning and reprogramming our ideas and stereotypes that are so often put on us. Love is internal not external or material. Until we meet in the fields of green.....do not forget me my PHAMILY. 

LOVE & LIGHT TO ALL!

 - Rob Schweitzer