Divine Destiny

About fifteen years ago, I ran my last race. The pounding on my back made it unwise. Instead, I turned to walking.

I remember vividly walking around Bethalto around the year 2000. Those were turbulent times. I had just dropped a load of money and five years of my life on a doctorate. I did it so I could do more at my job, as an associate dean at Lewis and Clark Community College. I even dared to believe I could become a real dean.

My walks would take me into the old part of Bethalto, around the downtown area and through various areas of the village. Because of two back surgeries, I walk with my head down….which allows me to scan the pavement immediately in front of me. That fact is important. By looking down, you can easily spot pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters as they lay on the pavement. From 1999 to 2001, I scored $3.25 during my walks. Sweet.

Every time I spotted a coin, I’d stoop down, pick it up, and say a prayer.

“Lord, please show me the way,” I’d pray. “Please make sense out of my journey. I have worked so hard and I don’t know if all of that work will pay off. Throw me a bone Lord……please show me a path where I can use this degree.”

In 2001, I applied for the presidency at Frontier Community College and my prayers were answered. But my family would not come with me…and once again I sought a higher power. The answer I got was very simple. My path was in front of me and I needed to leave all that I loved to go to Fairfield.

I don’t tell you this story to gain sympathy. The point is to let you know that I do believe in a higher power and divine destiny.

I tell you the story to let you understand what happened to me recently. I was out for a walk in Snyder. Hoofing it with I-pod in place, head firmly locked on the pavement in front of me, much like I used to do a decade ago in my native village.

Right in front of me I saw a penny and stopped to reach down and pick it up. The moment was powerful. It made all of those memories rush back. I had been delivered…..and I needed to be grateful.

I have a beautiful, talented and resourceful wife. My sons survived and have moved forward with their lives….and my God……my career has been everything I had ever hoped for. I go to work every day and dream of how to make Western Texas College more powerful and effective for our students and the community.

I squatted there for a moment…..pawed the penny…..and then put it back down for the next person to walk by.

Maybe they need a bit of good fortune to prompt them to ask for help.

Maybe the higher power will bless them like he blessed me.