Tequilas From Heaven- a True story
This is an event in my life that taught me an important lesson on faith, and showed me a side of God that contradicted some; or most of the church had ever taught me. Although I no longer practice a specific religion ( I still respect different religions), but I am growing My faith- by dealing direct with God.
A few years ago, my Mom wanted to go back home to visit Family in Mexico. She asked me to come along as a companion and I was glad to go – travel is a passion of mine. So we made the arrangements and set the intention for the trip as one of service, and doing God’s Will; and to simply Trust the flow of things without a specific agenda. This was a trip we wanted to enjoy, and we wanted to steer clear of tensions and drama with certain family members..
So , with joy in our hearts we set of on the trip. It was a fun, graceful and miraculous trip. Events unfolded easily, pieces of the puzzle started to fit in to the right places, and our desires and thoughts to have a book present and translated to English became reality when , not two minutes after discussing whether the book ( I Believe it was the Secret), would have been translated to Spanish, it came rolling down the store aisle, fresh off the presses. This was Divine intervention, putting us in the right time and right place to bring it to the people that needed it.
Both my mom and I also took part in many discussions, and shared our more liberal views to the strict Roman Catholic crowd. The words came easy and each message was delivered as it should be, as a seed to germinate- or as a direct opening to a new possibility never before considered. It was weird. Even being confronted with impassioned and righteous views; I stayed calm and brought my opinion to the table that seemed to stun one aunt who refused to give up her stance. Nothing seemed to shake me. Even now remembering the circumstances,… I feel a sense of peace.
Now as the trip neared the end, my mom decided to buy 4 bottles of tequila from the local liquor store that had a very good sale price. I reminded her she could always get them at the duty free shop and not have to carry them around. She preferred to be thrifty. I shrugged it off.
The day we were to leave- I noticed she put all four bottles in her carry on shoulder bag. I reminded her that after 9/11 there was no way that she would be able to take it in her carry on, AND that the four bottles would hurt her shoulder. She is a tiny woman with a slight frame. She just brushed the comment aside with her and said- “ Don’t Worry about it, God is with me”. I shrugged it off, thinking she would come to her senses, and pack it in the check in luggage later.
We get to the airport, and I realize she has not used common sense. I remind her that the airport security will not allow 4 bottles of liquor in the carry on. “ Ilona, Have faith. God is with us.”
I looked at her in disbelief and thought, “ how can she still be so innocent?” and continued to urge her to change her mind.
We headed to the baggage check and I reminded her ; “ This is your last chance to put it in the checked baggage. Mom, don’t be surprised if the confiscate it. Please Mom, just put it in the luggage.”
To which she replied; “ I know God is with us, everything will be ok. Have some faith.” She looked at me with conviction. I threw up my hands, wondering how she could be so naïve .
We discussed one more time- actually more like I warned her about what was probably going to happen, and what she should prepare for. She just repeated that God is with us and there is nothing to worry about.
We arrived at the last security check, with x-rays , metal detector and the wand search, I watched as my mom confidently put her bags and her shoes up on the conveyor belt for the x-ray machine to expose all truths. She receded through the metal detector as cool as a fucking cucumber- no doubt or worries what so ever.
As, I began to remove my shoes and place my carry-on bag and purse on the conveyor to take their turn; I turned my attention to the offensive shoulder bag, beginning to make its way through to the x-ray zone. It was visible to me the whole time from where I stood.
I watched it progress and glanced at the young man attending and searching the screen for anything offensive. I glanced at the bag getting closer to the zone,… back at the attendant; the bag as it entered the field of x-ray; glanced at the attendant, and instantly became stunned – my jaw dropping to the floor, as I witnessed him suddenly experience droopy tired eyes and nod off!!!
NO WORD OF A LIE! I glanced at the bag; back at him; the bag now leaving the zone; at him; the bag just exiting; and him just waking up and shaking off the drowsiness.
I was speechless. My jaw still on the floor ( probably very much open), I stepped through the metal detector in a stunned daze, looking at my mom, picking up her shoulder bag and joking with one of the security guards. In stunned disbelief I put my shoes on and picked up my carry on, and we continued on, toward our gate.
I could not speak until about two minutes later, I asked my mom what the fuck had happened. She calmly said ;
“I know I was not doing anything inherently wrong, so God I knew God was going to be with me . I always ask myself- am I hurting anyone? If not, I know, believe- and feel that I had nothing to worry about.”
I began to laugh, to release the nervous tension I had built up. I shared with her what had happened- which she did not see, and she just smiled sweetly. “Told you, to have faith. I am glad he showed you this lesson”.
It was not until about 10 minutes into our leisurely stroll to the gate- that I realized I did not have my purse with my passport and ticket. Panic set in. In my stunned state, I had left it at the security check point! I ran like a mad woman back to the checkpoint , afraid that Mexico would live up to its fame of “anything left behind is gone forever”. As I arrived out of breath to the check point, there holding my purse for me, was the sleepy security agent. I thanked him profusely with the little panicked breath I had, and continued back toward my mom- who barely understood where I had gone in such a panicked fashion. Needless to say, The fact my purse was intact- and all valuable still inside was a small miracle.
The story does not end there.
After calming her down and myself down, we continued discussing the amazing nature of God and faith, and soon we were boarded and seated in our seats.
Reflecting on the whole trip, I turned to my mom and said;
“This trip has been amazing, everything that needed to happen- happened, including those little miracles, the discussions, and this last lesson for me in faith. God really is with us isn’t he?”
Before my mom could answer; the Pilot came over the intercom and gave his intro;
“Buenos Dias, soy Miguel DeDios, su Piloto en este viaje, vamos a salir pronto, y llegaremos a Toronto a …etc, etc.”
( translated from Spanish);
“ Good Afternoon, This is your pilot Michael of God, we will be departing shortly, and arriving in Toronto at about ..etc etc.”
I turned to my mom ; “Michael OfGod? We really are in God’s hands!!! “ We started giggling like a couple of school girls, I know I felt giddy in the realization and knowledge that He was closer than I had ever imagined- loved me enough to take the time to show me . In that moment I saw the infinite love that is God- with a wicked loving sense of humour.
No one can tell me that God is a vindictive angry God. I became more aware of the little miracles and the joy and humour in everyday life. I learned that I should not be so cynical, and when I come across with someone who exudes the confidence of true faith, I know I am close to God.
I have also learned to beware of anyone that tries to put God in a limiting Box, or tries to define Him. We will really only see glimpses of him throughout lifetime- if you are aware of it you will see more Get to Know God directly, don’t allow a middle man to tell you about him. If you do, you risk experiencing some form of distortion of the truth. . I know it is a relationship worth pursuing one on one.
I hope this has brought a new view of the awesomeness that is God, and helped see him in a new light. I hope everyone can learn to get to know Him on that personal level and stop letting others define to you who they think he is. Get to know him personally. Trust me It is worth it.
~ Ilona
