Greetings, brothers and sisters, fellow travelers and sojourners. I am always inspired to hear the "stories" from everyday experiences of people meeting God. It never ceases to amaze me, the variety of ways in which we are all connected to one another and how we discover those "connections" as our journey unfolds. With that thought in mind, I would like to share a recent encounter of mine.

At this time I am employed as a medical alert technician in service to the elderly community. My work takes me throughout the Queens and Long Island area from L.I.C. to Montauk. In my daily travels I am always trying to be sensitive and aware of how God might work "behind the scenes" with my clients. On a recent trip out to East Hampton I had the following experience:

I was called to install a system for an elderly gentleman who lived in a very nice cottage in a rural area, kind of an "artsy" place. It started out as a routine call: I went in, established some kind of rapport, and got to work. I sincerely try to think of myself as an ambassador of True Parents for all of the people I visit, but most of the time the communication is very limited due to the severity of illnesses I encounter. This call was typical. An older gentleman, well past his prime, possibly recovering from a stroke, sitting slumped in a wheelchair. There was very little give and take. I finished my job, specifically the installation of a personal emergency response system (PERS). I was packing my things, preparing to leave, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a faded old photograph and newspaper article. It was of a young, vigorous man, smiling, standing next to a huge fish! "Is that you?" I asked. "Yep," he said. A small grin was starting to creep across his face. My client (Peter) was coming back to life. He said, "You should've seen me back then; I was young and strong!"

I found out, after a few more minutes of animated conversation, that he used to be a boat captain. He ran a charter fishing boat off Montauk Point-and Freeport, twenty years ago. I started hearing that "Twilight Zone music" and felt really funny in the pit of my stomach. I caught my breath. "Freeport?" I asked in my usual direct, point- blank fashion, "Have you every heard of Rev. Moon?" "Heard of him? Why, heck, yeah! I used to take him out on my boat years ago-from Freeport!" he proclaimed proudly. I can still feel the chill that went up my spine at that moment. Could it be that this man was one of the earliest men to take Father out fishing in the very beginning of the fishing providence? It appeared to be so. I asked my new-found friend many questions about what it was like in those days with Rev. Moon out on the sea. He told me many heartfelt stories of how Father would talk to him personally like a son and how he would sit out on the back of the boat "just staring out at the sea." He said Rev. Moon was very kind and took care of him very well. "I remember him as a very good man." I could tell by the emotion in his voice that our conversation took him back to a better time in his life. He then asked a few questions of me: I told him that I had been following the teachings of Rev. Moon for over 20 years and had also had some very special personal experiences with him. I briefly shared with him some of the recent activities of True Parents around the world. There was a special feeling in the room at that moment, like the reunion of a long-lost father and son-like the meeting of two friends too long separated. I was grinning from ear to ear, my all-too-infrequent boyish grin which belies my years, and thinking to myself: thank you, God, for this call.

Peter was starting to tire, since he wasn't used to all this excitement. I looked deeply into his eyes and shook his hand warmly. He said to me that he was really glad we could share this conversation. I agreed and asked him if he would like me to visit him again. I told him I would bring him a picture of Rev. Moon which he could keep as a memento. He said he would like that very much. I left his home feeling very grateful to have met this man-and feeling very close to God.

A few days ago I visited him again and took a picture of True Parents and a copy of "True Parents and the Completed Testament Age" speech. He was happy to receive them and said he would try to read the speech. I left there thinking what an "amazing journey"! and was reminded once again that you never know whom you will meet or how God will touch someone-or you.

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