My
first retreat! As I sat in the baggage claim area of the Los Angeles
airport wondering if someone would come for me and what to do next,
I remembered Master's story about the man who died in the flood
waiting for God to save him - after refusing help from someone on
a boat, a helicopter, etc! So, I picked myself up and went to the
general transportation area where I quickly found an inexpensive
shuttle bus.
When
I arrived at the hotel, I felt a little overwhelmed: it was very
beautiful and very big. A kind voice suddenly materialized: "You
a disciple?" A fellow sister explained that I needed to go
downstairs to register, and in the meanwhile, she would look after
my luggage. My mind began to intrude, saying that I was foolish
to leave my belongings with a stranger. Then, another softer voice
seemed to say, "She's not a stranger, she's a sister."
Suddenly a weight lifted from my shoulders and positive excitement
began to pour into me. I had a dim awareness of being in a unique
situation where I could really let go of very old and persistent
habits: worry and mistrust.
I looked at my watch and realized that I needed to hurry so that
I could get to the 6:00P.M. initiation. While waiting in line to
register, I didn't realize that I had gotten in line from the wrong
direction! Finally, with a room key in hand, I ran upstairs, collected
my luggage, and managed to get my things into a crowded elevator.
However, when I got to my assigned room, I was told that it was
private and didn't belong to our group. Luckily, Master was sending
lessons too fast for me to worry much by then. At the registration
desk, I quickly obtained another key and ran back upstairs, retrieved
my luggage, and ran to the elevators. But they were jammed with
people, and I decided to carry my three bags up the stairs to my
new room located on the 14th floor.
The minute I began climbing the stairs with three large bags, I
realized how foolish my idea was. The stairs were crowded and I
was embarrassed when I saw that I was blocking the stairway and
slowing other people down. But the Master power came to the rescue
again. Hands of brothers and sisters on the stairs behind me appeared
out of nowhere to help me carry the bags. As one person would reach
his own floor and let go of a bag, another set of hands would reach
out to replace them. This continued all the way to the 14th floor.
Master's
blessings continued throughout the entire retreat, only changing
in form. When I returned to my room from the initiation, I was met
by the smiles of my roommates. My two older sister-roommates had
been with Master for more than ten years, and seemed to me to be
living examples of the power and simplicity of Master's message.
Although we didn't speak the same outside language, Master's love
came through them so clearly that we could always communicate. They
showed such genuine care for me again and again during the retreat,
reminding me of Master's infinite care for Her disciples.
On Thursday, one of my roommate-sisters offered me a ticket to the
One World Concert. At first, I refused because of my return reservation
for Friday afternoon. But during the next meditation session, Master
spoke about the difference between God's will and free will. Her
response somehow indicated to me that I would grow more by staying
and having faith that things would work out than by following my
original plan to leave. Somehow, though, my sister and I had a miscommunication,
and on Friday afternoon when I went to the room to dress for the
concert, one sister explained that my ticket had been given to someone
else, because the other sister had thought that I wasn't going to
stay. She urged me to see if there were any tickets left.
Although
the situation seemed impossible (the bus was leaving in less than
an hour), I tried to remember what Master had just said that day:
"Keep your thoughts positive." However, my attempt at
positive thinking didn't change the fact that the office downstairs
was closed when I got there. Trying not to cry, I decided to make
one last stop at the Information Desk. Standing in front of the
desk were two sisters, of whom I inquired if the concert tickets
were all gone. Looking closely at me, one sister asked me what had
happened. Holding back my tears, I managed to give a brief explanation
and then watched in wonder as she handed me a ticket (her ticket)
and said, "This is your lucky day, sister!" Then I really
cried, only this time my tears were full of grateful relief. Thank
You, Master, for showing me how to better trust in God's will!
I cannot express my gratitude for all the experiences that conveyed
so eloquently Master's love and blessings during my first retreat.
I can only say, "Thank You, Master. It is because of Your presence
in my life that I now have the opportunity to let God's love fill
my heart. And Your presence at this retreat told me over and over
again, in so many different ways, that I am finally on my way Home
with the best Friend and best family I could ever imagine. Thank
You."
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