When was the last time you received a wink from God? Better question; When was the last time you noticed a wink from God? You know, that experience that seems to be a little too coincidental that really speaks to your heart? It could be a little thing that you notice in nature, the call of an old friend, a cool breeze on a hot day, really anything that leaves you feeling that there is someone bigger who actually cares about you personally?
God winked at me in the form of an old Jewish man named Simeon today. While I was out on my morning run with Rooster I noticed an older, balding man walking toward me on the trail with trekking poles. As we approached one another he slowed his pace and waved one of his poles to get me to stop. I slowed to a halt and he introduced himself in a thick eastern European accent as “Simeon”. Our conversation then went as follows:
Simeon: “I am not from here, just visiting for a few weeks and I am wanting to know if there is a way to the top of this mountain (gesturing to the tallest peak behind us).”
Me: “Sure thing, it is a steep hike of about 3-4 miles with no marked trail, but has a great view”
Simeon: “What kind of animals do I need to worry about?”
Me: “Deer, Elk, coyotes, and the occasional Mountain lion.”
Simeon (shaking his head): “Oh, no Mountain Lions for me, I will just walk to the next canyon over”
Me: “That’s a lot of walking to do in one day”
Simeon: “Not too much, I used to be on the USA national Triathlon team, I can still exercise for miles. When I retired from triathlons I decided to dedicate my life to becoming a pro golfer on the senior tour. I worked for 8-10 hours per day for 2 years but then my hip wore out and I had to stop.”
Me: “Wow, that’s dedication….You know I just had a hip replacement myself and I was thinking about trying to train for a triathlon, but I am out of shape, feel old, and I am always sore.”
Simeon (holding his hands about 3 feet apart): “Stop. Your life is this long, from here to here” (gesturing from hand to hand) “It is all you have, you can either be positive or miserable, always choose positive….You know, the best thing for your hip is you get on the bike and you ride and ride…Last year after my hips hurt from golfing I rode my bike for 27,884 miles. It fixed my hip, and my knee, and my ankle. You get on the bike and you ride it. The bike is the key”
Me: “You are the man Simeon! That’s a lot of miles for anyone. I will definitely get going on the bike training soon.”
Simeon:” You know I am 77 years old”, (even though he looked like 50) “I have learned that the only thing that holds most people back from anything is themselves…..You can do anything if you just do it and love it.”
A few more pleasantries were exchanged and I parted ways with my new friend Simeon. I will probably never talk with that man again, but I was left with a feeling of awe and gratitude to God. This old man who had a zest for life and a passion for exercise and triathlons did not know when he met me that I was struggling to get my own physical health back, thinking about trying to train for a triathlon, that I was feeling discouraged emotionally and tired. He did not know that his advice to get on the bike was also the exact advice that all of my doctors had been prescribing. He happened to just be himself, and in this instance it was exactly what I needed.
Somehow, God saw fit to father me through a total stranger in the mountains.It was His way to reach me and remind me that I am chosen, known, and loved. How is God trying to reach you? I believe he is, and that he will reach in very personal ways that only He can. Take a look around today, I am confident that if you look with the right eyes and grateful attitude you will find that God has woven Himself very closely into the fiber of your everyday life.