In January 2009 I lost my job as a corporate trainer for Crown Agents Bank Ltd. Because we're foreigners, we don't have access to government hand-outs and so we were without an income and, with a credit crunch, accountants and others working in the finance field weren't at the top of the list for getting jobs! We had to move as we could see that, if nothing changed, we wouldn't be able to afford our accommodation in Croydon. Of course, I applied for zillions of jobs but no bites. Eek!No job, no accommodation, no immediate prospects - we were up that street without gumboots and we were panicked!
We lost countless nights of sleep, worried constantly, prayed a lot, planned and schemed about how to get out of our predicament and there just didn't seem to be any light at the end of our dark tunnel. However, the world didn't come to an end and our lives continued. At the 11th hour, we were offered the use of a Hymer motor home to live in for a few months and so we made the most of it, wandering round and enjoying the south of England in the spring - how awful could that be! I continued to apply for jobs from the Hymer and eventually landed one in June. Whew!
Because of our commitment to ourselves, each other and to our marriage, we are committed to continual personal and spiritual development and it's paying off.
Last week we were told we must move from the rent-free house we're living in as the owner cannot afford not to rent it out. Eek! No house, little income, and nowhere else to live. The difference, this time, is that we are not panicked. Two things have changed:
1. We now have more trust in ourselves and that we're in the hands of God, all the time, and
2. We've now had so many close calls, and survived, that our trust in God is confirmed.
We now know, without a doubt, that however justified our dismissal or how illegally it was done, it is the perfect thing for us to move on for greater opportunities to be presented to us by the universe, God or whatever you want to that which is greater than us. And, yes, there are the occasional "oh heck" moments when we return to the fear of the past but, every time, we bring our thoughts back into alignment with peace and we're still and serene again. A change of mind and a total change of state, this time … thank God!
Now, to continue Arthur Bayly's story from the previous blog ...
As they lay back in each other's arms, feeling hazy and sweet, Arthur felt that familiar, urgent and unpleasant call to arms. He moved as if to leap out of bed and caught himself quickly - today was different - pleasantly, oddly different.
"You're jumpy dear," said Joan dreamily, "are you off to work now that you've had your wicked way with me?"
"Hmm, I nearly was, actually," said Arthur smiling as he settled back into the warmth of her embrace. "It's hard to shake off years of training at the front."
"The front?"
"A military term. I feel like a soldier who'd volunteered to sacrifice himself for some dratted cause I knew nothing about and, now, I've gone AWOL and feel guilty about that."
"Well you can always go back but today you're being ordered by Colonel Joan to stay right here while you are served breakfast!"
"Yes Sir ... Ma'am," he said as she slipped out of the bed and down stairs. 'So this is what it's like not to work,' he thought, 'a bit unnerving, really.'
After a hearty English breakfast of fried sausages, bacon, eggs and baked beans, soldier Arthur was ready to tackle the work, which he did at a leisurely pace. At nine o'clock he reported for duty by phoning his work, just as his son reported for duty with his two children. The latter were hushed and hustled into the lounge while Arthur made contact.
"Good morning, AIL Insurance, Halee speaking."
"Ah, good morning Halee, it's Arthur Bayly here."
"Oh, sir, are you OK?" asked Halee, concerned.
"Oh! Ah, I suppose I am," said Arthur, savouring the question.
"Actually, I'm strangely peaceful, despite my reason for not being at work today."
"So you've slipped through a crack?"
"Slipped through a crack?"
"Slipped through a crack in the map," explained Halee, "It's a phrase they use in fairy stores when someone slips out of their regular life, the way they'd mapped it out. Some slip back and some don't."
"Golly, what an interesting thought," said Arthur, then quickly remembering that he had a reason to call. "I won't be in today or for the next few days as my mother-in-law has just died."
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that, Sir."
"Yes, thank you Halee, but Joan and I feel oddly happy about what's happened," said Arthur, surprised that he found himself explaining this to a girl he hardly knew.
"Well, sir, good luck on your journey," said Halee. "I guess we won't see you back then."
"Oh dear no, I will probably be back next week," Arthur protested.
"Sorry, sir, but you probably won't," said Halee firmly. "When you slip through a crack in the map and are feeling right about it, despite any circumstances, you don't usually want to come back. You might try but the old map's never the same again with that rip in it."
"Gosh," said Arthur, at a loss for words.
"Oh sir, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't be telling you what to do…"
"Oh, that's perfectly OK," said Arthur, smiling. "In fact, what you say sounds quite logical. How do you know this?"
"Because I slipped through a crack in my map," said Halee. "My parents had me mapped out to be a nurse and then a wife and mother, breeding lots of grandchildren for them. I tried it and I didn't fit. I had to get away from New Zealand and here I am in London and enjoying every bit of it."
"Oh, oh, do you think I'll have to move … you know, to another country?" asked Arthur.
"You may not need to but if you do, it will be much easier than it was before," said Halee and Arthur smiled that he should be asking questions about his life from a mere slip of a girl.
"Hmm, well thank you Halee," said Arthur, not quite knowing what to say next and reluctant to hang up the phone. "I suppose we shall speak later in the week?"
"Of course, Sir, and don't forget to listen to your heart."
"What? Do you think I might have a heart attack?" asked Arthur, suddenly alarmed.
"No, no, no Sir!" said Halee, chuckling, "No, nothing like that. I just meant to listen to your heart for guidance, for decisions. Hear that quiet voice of peace."
"Peace?"
"Yes. If you're stewing over a decision, make the choice that brings you that deep sense of peace," explained Halee, "any other decision can be rejected."
"Oh, gosh, I'd never heard of that before," said Arthur, wondering how a young lass could propound so much wisdom. "You're quite a wise young thing, aren't you?"
"I'm your angel for today Sir," said Halee brightly, "and you'll be someone else's angel for today. We all get a turn every day. Cool, aye?"
"Well, yes, quite," said Arthur, wondering how such a mundane phone call could become philosophical so easily. "So you'll tell Mary that I am indisposed and I'll ring her later in the week?"
"Absolutely, sir, and you take care of yourself."
As Arthur hung up the phone, he felt quite at peace, and a little annoyed at having to look after two youngsters, cute as they were, right now. He sat a while and Joan eventually came in and put her arms around him.
"Apparently, dear, I've slipped through the map," he said smiling into her hair.
"Hmm, maybe it's been more active than that," said Joan, "maybe you leaped off the end of the map. You played your part in this, you know."
"Hmm," said Arthur, vaguely wondering what any of it meant.
"Now, Arthur, you didn't tell me you were the local hero," said Joan leaning back and looking into his eyes.
"Local hero?"
"Yes, Martin's bought this morning's paper and there's a more of your story. It appears you tackled a local drug dealer, quite a vicious man, apparently. And you saved a woman and her child and the police have been after him for six months and you did it single handed!" said Joan with tears spilling out with the words. "Someone took a photo. It's definitely you!"
"Yes, yes, I told you about it and I'm not sure it happened quite the way they say there," said Arthur, feeling that his memory had slipped through some crack or other. "But I do remember they seemed quite pleased to have him caught. But perhaps we'd better let Martin get off to his work and we can look at more then."
As they entered the lounge he was surprised that his frenetic son and lively grandchildren were peacefully playing on the floor - something he'd never seen before. Arthur found himself easing down with them and, instead of the usual flurry and screaming, the children quietly sidled sideways into his arms.
"Hello Granddad, you look sad and happy at the same time," said Timothy, looking into Arthur's eyes.
"Well, Timothy, you could well be right," said Arthur, hugging him. "And how are you, my young man?"
"I'm staying here with you and Nana," said Timothy, his big smile answering the question.
"And how are you, young lady?" asked Arthur.
"Hmm, I like hugging you, Grandad," said Katie, snuggling in closer.
Arthur looked across at Martin, who looked up from the child's puzzle he was doing with red round his eyes.
"Are you alright, Martin? I thought you wanted to rush off to a conference somewhere?" asked Arthur.
"Yes, I was Dad," said Martin quietly. "Look, I know this is an awful time for you and mum with Grandie dying and everything. And I've got some news too. It's all happening at once, isn't it?"
"Is it bad news, Martin?"
"I'm afraid so, Dad."
"Look everyone, perhaps I'll go and make a pot of tea for all of us," said Joan quickly. "Come on Timothy and Katie, you can help Nana with the biscuits."
"The English remedy for any problem under the sun - a good old cup of tea!" said Martin, smiling sadly.
"Yes, a cup of tea and a chat might be what we all need," said Joan taking the children's little hands in her own. "Isn't that right Doctor Katie and Doctor Timothy?"
"Yes, Nana, we'll make some medicine to make everyone better," said Katie as the three skipped out to the kitchen.
"So Martin, your news?" asked Arthur.
"Oh, Dad, you've got enough of your own stuff going on," said Martin, uncharacteristically avoiding discussion about himself.
"Martin," said Arthur sternly, "I want to know what's happening for you. There's plenty of time for our things."
"Well, Dad, Ruth says she's … she's met someone."
"Met who?" asked Arthur not comprehending what was so important about someone Martin's wife had met.
"A man…"
"A man to do with work? Could this be a promotion?" asked Arthur, knowing Martin's sole topic of conversation.
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