When you think you’re at the end of your rope, your luck has run out, and there is no where left to turn, there just might be angels around the corner waiting for you to simply ask for help.
I had gone with my husband, Brad, to visit Halifax. We were looking up an old friend of his, someone I’d never met before, John. Brad found him easily via telephone, and it seemed he’d never left home, as he was living with his parents. The real truth, however, was that a series of hardships resulted in John seeking solace and support through his loving parents who extended their small basement apartment to him after his ex had torched the boat he used to live on.
When we arrived, John introduced us to his common-law spouse, Kerry, who he claimed saved his life. She had helped him and restored his sense of hope, allowing him to believe in the gift of life again. He said, “I felt real love for the first time.”
To look at John, you wouldn’t be able to tell that he had suffered extreme harassment at the hands of a bitter ex-wife, who also exhibited some mental health issues. After setting his boat on fire, torching it completely, he had no alternative other than to move back home with his parents. Like many people, he had no insurance covering the loss of his property, and had to start from scratch again.
In spite of these hardships, John, although in his own state of despair, wore the greatest smile, and offered the warmest greeting as would a King. His partner, Kerry, shared a similar story.
Kerry survived Hurricane Juan, which had taken the roof off her apartment building, and her lacking insurance resulted in severe losses that would never be recouped. In spite of their hardships, the two of them decided that together they could build a great future for themselves. They were so optimistic, and I just loved their energy!
Despite the despair, there was the brightest love and energy that I’ve ever felt. I asked them, “What keeps you so positive? You have no insurance, and you have to start over. It’s just so great to see!”
Looking at each other, Kerry replied, “It can’t get any worse, and there is only one out of this, and that’s up and at ‘em! Besides,” she said, “it only makes room for something better.” We all laughed joyously and agreed.
If had been 18 years since Brad had been home to Nova Scotia, and it was so nice for me to see the smile on his face. I think I could have harnessed all that positive energy. It was a very emotional experience and I could feel everything as though it was my own person having his experience. It was simply the best trip we ever had, and honestly, the drive back home to Ontario was the hardest thing we both had to do.
We kept in touch often over the years with both John and Kerry, calling, sending cards, and enjoying the connection these routines offered. After all, there was so much joy to share every time we did call, or hear from them. It seemed that their luck was always changing for the better. John had been hired by a local factory, and while the pay wasn’t the greatest, the benefits made up for a lot. Kerry managed to get a great job at a local insurance company, and they had reached the point when they could move from the basement apartment, and into their own space.
One day, Brad and I were sitting on the patio at home when he said, “You know, I have a good mind to call John and razz him about his hockey team.” Brad’s a hockey ‘freak’ and I say this lightly, a true die-hard TML fan!
When Kerry answered she said, “Oh, hi Bradford, I’m so happy you called. Here’s John.”
John picked up the other phone and say, “Oh, you can tease me all you want Biffy, I’m gonna buy that team of yours and whip them into shape! We just won $15.5 million dollars my friend.” The look on Brad’s face was priceless.
The greatest things in life are ahead of you, if you really want to have them; if you really believe that you could have anything you want! John did, despite the suffering, having to move back home after years of being on his own, after having lost everything, and yet, he knew he could rebuild his life. He believed in himself.
When asked how he felt about his new-found luck, he simply replied, “I asked, I believed, and I received.”