Why did I name this blog “other experiences?” I didn’t want to scare anyone saying “supernatural” or so even though this is what this blog is about.

As we go through life stuff happens. Many times you’ll hear other people say how they avoided something that could have turned out terrible…”whew!” Or a dream-job lands in one’s lap or perhaps one wins the lottery. And sometimes one is led down a productive path…networking, someone puts in a good word for you for a job or other event, etc.

But how does this happen? I personally think there’s Divine intervention. Throughout my life I have always tried to plan according to how experts recommend. Career, financial, you-name-it. And just when I’ve got a really darn-good plan…it all falls apart. Hah! Seriously!

I moved from Chicago to Boston because of music work with my best music bud but within the first 6 months landed an interesting job I wasn’t quite prepared for…organist/choirmaster in a Greek Orthodox Church. I was Roman Catholic at the time. My music bud recommended me to the priest who was a friend of his. Aaaaccckkkkk! I had no idea what a Greek Orthodox Church did. And…they hired me! Faint. It took me 4 months of intensive training (Orthodox boot camp) to learn the Liturgy and some Greek too since half the Liturgy is in Greek.

And you know what? Two years later I became Orthodox. Huh! I was so impressed with the Liturgy, how intense it is, how Memorials in honor of deceased loved ones at the end of the Liturgy helped so many people grieve and feel loved and comforted, and much more. My choir was good! I learned the basic liturgical music and liturgical Greek. Now if you think I ever planned this in my life…think again!

My music bud and I eventually did start teaching together and making more music together but that wasn’t the shockeroo that converting to Orthodoxy was! And interesting enough, a friend at the Church I used to work for (in the office) back in Chicago told me that perhaps I was moving for spiritual reasons. Ummmm….I think she hit that nail on the head even though I had no clue!

Before I moved to Boston I had head surgery…benign tumor (meningioma) that did not go into my brain. I was fine in about 6 months. After that and after I had moved, I decided I wanted to be the healthiest thing on the planet. Yet, I didn’t know how to accomplish that. I ended up reading a series of books starting with Deepak Chopra’s “Perfect Health.” Then I went on to read several other health books. How did I know which ones to read? I didn’t. They appeared either in an ad or bookstore, or for one of them, I was watching a 90 minute special on public TV. This nutritionist was talking about being healthy and losing weight, and pushing his new book. Well, I bought the book. It’s great. I try to follow some of his stuff to this day.

Then I retired in 2020 from my regular jobs and intended to just do my music. I had a retirement plan! But…the pandemic hit. We lost the music studio. My music bud died. I had major back/spinal surgery. What happened to my plan? Gone! Pfffttt! Here we go again. I think God slaps my plans into infinity and then drops His own on me instead…without warning. Grrrr.

Re the major back/spinal surgery I had 2 years ago…about 3 months before I had a dream about my Busia (boo-sha which is Polish for grandma)…my mother’s mother. I have a black and white picture of her standing and smiling. I never met her because she died before I was born. Well, the dream was so happy! She was smiling and sparkling…the picture was in color, the sun was shining…I was even in the dream. I was happy! And of course you can still think in dreams…I remember thinking “why am I dreaming about her again?” When I woke up I thought perhaps she was going to take care of me or ???? I have not dreamed about her since.

When I was in rehab after surgery…I was falling asleep one night and felt a light, warm hand first on one side of my back and then on the other. I thought “is that you Mom?” My mother took care of me after my head surgery. I always called her a saint after that. Soooo…I came to the conclusion that my Mom and her Mom were in charge of taking care of me. And I’m doing well today and determined to stay healthy as I did before!

I know God has a plan for all of us. And as far as me making more plans for the future, forget it! I still have my heartfelt dreams but I’ve gotten to the point where I refuse to make plans to obtain them. I just pray and wait for the obvious…God to make it happen…usually in a much different and more dramatic way than I would ever think of. Oy vey!

And let’s not forget the good ole “low gut feeling.” I have learned in life to never ignore it! Never! If something is nagging you just do whatever it is. You’ll be happier for listening to yourself…or the Divine intervention. Sometimes it seems like a secretary you can’t see. Ha!

Interesting isn’t it? That Divine intervention just pushing you around in life in different directions…but always in the right direction. That’s how it’s been for me, at least when I take the time to analyze what just happened yet again in life! Ha!

Feel free to mention how your own life has taken unrealized twists and turns…eventually for the better. I always say life’s a trip! And don’t forget, eat pie. It really helps!

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