by:  Linda Law

    LIfe is a mystery.  We wake up, we go through the motions, and often, our paths are not as we planned.  Are our paths planned, even though WE don't plan them?  Are our lives preplanned for us?  This is a mystery that some are convinced is not mysterious; simply the way it is!

   This weekend, we took a short trip to the mountains, mainly to get away from the busy work week, and the extreme high temperatures of Phoenix, AZ.  The temperatures are now in the 110's and although we had a cooler summer so far than normal; it is evident that hot is not going to escape us!  The heat can drain our bodies and our minds of essential stamina to endure the most minute steps to get through the day.  It becomes overwhelming to stay fresh and to breathe without difficulty, as well as to drink plenty of cool water during the course of the day.  Yet, Phoenix is a mecca to many, drawing others from colder regions to the sunshine, the warmth, the beautiful clearness of each day.

  Amazingly, just a few short hours away, are the pristine mountains, where the temperatures are much lower, and the air is fresher, crisper and rejuvenating.  This was my destination this weekend, and so on Friday morning, while it was almost 110 degrees in Phoenix, we headed to the White Mountains, just three and a half hours away.  The air conditioning in the car was blowing full-blast, and as we traveled, it wasn't necessary to keep it blowing.  Soon we turned it off, opened the car windows, and the little sports car was filled with cool, brisk fresh air.  The dry, brown and chiseled rock formations along the highway began to fade, and soon the signs of green foliage were springing forth.  Before long, we were in the center of huge, green pine trees, and signs warning to be careful for Elk crossing the main highway.  Every time we've made this beautiful trip to the mountains in the past, we discuss the ELK CROSSING signs that line the main roads; and I am convinced they are a MYTH.  We encountered a few showers, but they were welcomed and exciting!

   Once we reached our destination, we checked into The Whispering Pines Cabins, and directly off the main highway, within a block of gravel drive, we were in the midst of a forest filled with huge green pine trees, and several small waterfalls, deer openly feeding, and one log cabin after another.  Our cabin was a full one bedroom, one bath, with a complete kitchen, fully furnished, a real fire burning fireplace (although not needed this trip), and a front porch with a deck and several comfy lawn chairs.  There was a BBQ pit, and a bucket filled with fresh chopped wood for bulding a fire if necessary.  This cabin held a romantic, yet peaceful ambiance for my husband and I, but mainly....it was a place to refresh our minds and bodies.

   On the left of our cabin, is a huge fence, as if it were holding this country feeling of being in the mountains, in the center of a forest, well contained within the walls of the fence.  To the other side of the fence, is a paved walkway, and then a parking lot, leading to a large country restaurant, therefore....we are back in the city!  Walla, that magical is how I saw it. One moment we are in the woods, and in another moment, we are in the city.   After dinner, I went to the Indian Casino, HON-DAH, and it is a huge, modern place, with an over packed parking lot, filled with tourists and locals alike.  Although I can't afford to gamble, I do enjoy watching the reels go round, and so I played a penny machine for a couple of hours, and left with $30 less than I had when I arrived.  I toured the beautiful structure, and got a glimpse of my first ELK....although he was a magnificent creature, he was stuffed!  Seemed as if this elk was giving my mind some food for thought...however; he remains a myth to me.

   The following day we traveled a few miles to Fort Apache, where the US Government housed Native Americans many years before.  We went through the museum, and I was intrigued with the Teepee that sat in the center of the museum, and the many beautiful larger than life paintings by local native americans.  There were examples of their costumes for special occasions, and some of their everyday dress, as well as intricate baskets and hand made jewelry.  It was a small museum, and as is usual, a small gift shop adjoined the museum, with books and postcards, and a few of the objects made by locals for sale.   I purchased some lovely postcards, and a booklet with the history of the Fort.

   As I approached the counter to pay, I noticed that my husband and I were two of the only a handful of people who had paid to view the museum.  I wondered how it is able to maintain help if this is an example of the popularity of the museum.  This place is quite humbling, and as I went to pay for my items, the young man who waited on me, was about 18 years old, very slim, with a loose ponytail that went past his waist.  He was very gentle in his manner, and spoke almost in a whisper.  I had to strain to hear him, and when I looked at him, our eyes met directly, and I felt as if he had a glimpse of my soul.  There is no way I can explain the strange feeling that overcame me in this moment. 

  "What is your name?"  I asked, and he spoke once again in that whisper, "Jerrold", yet I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly, and said, "Darryl?" .... He said, "no, my name is Jerrold."  I couldn't take my eyes off of his brown eyes, and suddenly this wierd feeling, warm and mysterious overcame me, as I felt my voice almost choke when I spoke.  I couldn't help myself, as I heard my voice say, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, but something about you has just touched my heart, and I want you to know that I believe God has something wonderful in store for you."   I have no idea why I said that...it just spurted forth, and he didn't change his expression; simply continued to look into my hazel tear filled eyes.  He said nothing.

  When I paid for my few items, I continued to view additional items, and noticed that the manager of the shop was taking an inventory, and I asked her, "Has he worked here long?"  She said, "Oh, he's been here since he was a boy, and he's the most beautiful young man.  Why do you ask?"  I had to hold myself together, because I found that I could barely speak; my voice felt choked, and I had this strangeness overwhelm me, and I was embarrassed of my actions, not in the least professional or calm as is my nature.  The tears were welling, and I could not explain why; as I responded, "Something about him has filled me with emotion, and then I choked up...."  I couldn't finish, so I put my hand to my heart, and attempted to say, "When I looked into his eyes it was as if my God spoke to me, and told me that this young man has a beautiful path ahead..."   She then asked me, "You don't have negative feelings about him do you?"   I quickly responded, "Oh, No....I feel only warmth and beauty around him."   Quickly, I left the museum, and the tears finally released from within me....dropping down my cheeks. 

  There is no way I can explain the reason for my feeling toward this strange child/man; yet....we have passed this Fort many times in the past, and never stopped.  Today we did stop, and today I met him....and felt his spirit within my own....and I felt as if God wanted me to touch him and let him know that he is special.   We drove away, and I silently prayed for Jerrold, that his life be filled with beautiful things, and that he have a safe and positive life.  I prayed for him the remainder of the day, off and on, as he remained within my heart and my soul.  Even as I write this, I can close my eyes for a second, and I see him clearly....as if he is still standing before me, searching  within my own eyes...seeing what I see and saw.

   Perhaps this is nothing more than one of those things in life...a passing thing; however...it feels like much more than that...and I believe that God led us here specifically on this day, so that I would have this particular encounter with Jerrold.  I do not know what his life is like, or about, nor do I know anything about him; yet I know that I was led to meet him, and to pray for him, and I will continue to do so for some time to come.  

  This otherwise insignificant encounter gave me reason to wonder..... Does this happen to others?  Do we have these planned or unplanned incidents in our lives that lead us to one another, even for a moment in time?  Is there a reason for these encounters?  Have others met me in the past and felt something like this feeling that I had for Jerrold?  Have others prayed for me, or held me up to God in prayer for positive?  I know that I have had many of these encounters over the years; yet they fade with time; however at the moment, they are extremely life altering in their own way.

  I was also reminded of my many friends on this site; who have been ill in the past, or have had loss of loved ones, and although we have never met in person.....we "feel" as if we know one another...and we care about one another.  How is that possible?  Why is it possible?  All I know in reality, is that if this is normal, then I am happy that I can count myself as normal, because I surely want God to hold each of you up to the light, and allow only good and lovely things in your life.  I pray for your peace, your good health, your finances, and your daily lives..

  Linda Law