Published

Spectral Yellow Butterfly

Who’s Listening?

By Susan E. Greene

Excerpt from Rekindling the Human Spirit

An Anthology of Hope, Courage and Inspiration

Liberty publishing Group ISBN 1-893095-20-7

An executive group in Oakland was in trouble. They were being wrenched apart because they hadn’t had the most important conversation.

            To practice the skills I’d covered that morning facilitating “Power of Candor” program, I invited them to talk about anything that was on their minds or hearts but hadn’t been willing to bring up. Next thing I knew, the group was in chaos heading into total oblivion.

            It was perfect! They were finally dealing with issues that had been subtly sabotaging them for months. Although it was time for me to catch the plane from San Francisco to Houston, they pleaded with me to help them through the discussion. After 17 years facilitating groups, I’ve learned that if it shows up…handle it. And so, I agreed.

After everyone had a chance to be heard, they managed to go from congeniality to chaos to mutuality to solidarity in just a short time. Wow! Every participant embraced the new information, used the tools effectively and felt better for taking the risk.

            Oakland is 60 minutes from the San Francisco airport. It’s 2:15 p.m. and the plane departs at 3:30 p.m. You do the math. To make things worse, I didn’t have a map. I’d planned time to have a quick lunch with the group, get directions, drive to the airport, return the rental car and arrive 30 minutes early. Another plan gone awry!

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            It seems that every day, plans change. Is it a challenge? Sandra Yancey, CEO, eWomenNetwork, says: “take the word challenge and cross out the three middle letters – you now have change.”

            So plans change. What I know is that it’ll come together easily if I get out of the way. Since I was willing to continue as needed, I knew that God, Jesus, the angels, the Universe or whatever you call the Divine, would stay with me.

            This is FAITH. This trusting that I am in the right place at the right moment is how I choose to live – and be there without drama.

            Getting directions from the parking garage attendant, I head towards San Francisco. I consciously choose not to look at the clock. I’m listening – I mean intently listening – to my guidance system – not the one Hertz puts in their cars, but the internal one we all have. It’s our personal inner guidance, the voice that keeps us on track if we listen. How do the geese know to fly south for the winter? How do pigeons find their home? How do Alaskan salmon know to swim up the river for breeding? We all have inner guidance systems.

            After crossing the Oakland Bridge and heading south towards the airport, I see the San Marino exit for rental car returns. Oops! This is San Marino Freeway – NOT San Marino Boulevard! Turning around means traversing two freeways before I could get to the rental car exit. By that time the plane would have departed. What do I do now? Angels help!!!

            Immediately I hear, “Take the first exit. Turn left.” No signs for the airport. “Go down three blocks and when you get behind the white truck follow it.” Whoa…there is a white truck. Still there are no signs about any airport facilities, parking, NOTHING. I don’t panic. The voice continues giving directions. About ten minutes later I’m pulling into the back of the car rental facility.

            Leaving the car, I run to the shuttle bus. Thank heavens for quick check out. As I approach airport security, another lane opens up, and I arrive at the gate just as they announce first class passengers boarding. They kept my seat! In just a few minutes I was sitting on the plane, which departed at 3:30 p.m.

            You’re probably asking how this is possible. It’s really very simple. As Geoffrey Hoppe says, “You dance with the one who shows up at the door.” Listen to the inner voice and trust it explicitly. For me, I can hear it. Some perceive with images, others with sensations. We all have our own particular way of expressing our innate wisdom.

            Trust and follow through without creating drama. When I was a drama mama, it didn’t come together as easily. The trust wasn’t there nor could I perceive the messages.

            Another example: Jim and I were preparing our honeymoon in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I went to Ruidoso’s website and discovered Shadow Mountain Lodge in Upper Canyon. They had a honeymoon cabin, Spurs and Lace. The name says it all. It was gorgeous. The pictures indicated there was a fireplace with candles on the mantle for leisurely breakfasts and cozy evenings. There was a large Jacuzzi with three huge candle pillars on the floor that created the most amazing glow. The canopy bed had lots of pillows and a down comforter. The ample couch and chairs looked comfy. The spacious bright kitchen was delightful with full-size appliances. The ceilings were tall, with high windows allowing lots of light. You could even watch the sunrise, cozily tucked in bed. The view of the trees from the porch and balcony windows looked lovely, even if it would be too cold to enjoy sitting outside in November. We’d found the perfect place for our honeymoon – until I saw the price. Oh well, maybe for our 25^th anniversary!

            I searched many different cabins; homes, inns and condos, finally selecting a large room back at Shadow Mountain Lodge. No Jacuzzi and the living area smaller. The view was limited, but it fit our budget easily.

            Reservations were made for the trip, including Thanksgiving dinner when we arrived. Ten days before we left, while busy with Saturday morning chores, that inner voice said, “Call the lodge and ask about Spurs and Lace again – they’ll negotiate.”

            I trust that voice. This time the owner answered the phone. Discovering the Spurs and Lace cabin was available I asked if he was willing to lower the price since we were coming for a week, not just the holiday. Guess what price he came up with? The top figure of our budget! Yep – we had a delightful honeymoon. What would we have missed if I hadn’t made that call?

            How many times do you hear a voice, or experience a sudden thought that seems totally unrelated to what you’re doing, but is relevant with something else? That’s your inner guidance system at work – just like the nudge I got to make that call.

            Then sometimes the guidance system is operating and we haven’t a clue! For example: the phone rings. My sister Leanne gives us the bad news: Dave, my 53-year-old brother-in-law, had a stroke at work. Had a stroke! Dave climbs mountains, cross country skis and bicycles across Nova Scotia for fun. The prognosis; he’ll probably never walk again. I decided to be there when he came home in his wheel chair.

            I immediately made arrangements to fly to Providence and meet my other sister, Katie. The two of us would drive the four-and-a half hours to Leanne’s, in time for Dave’s homecoming.

            Checking in at the airport, the porter announced the flight had already closed. What? I’d allowed the usual 75 minutes from home to check-in when I gave the driver, Pedro, my pick-up time. Somehow I’d miscalculated.

            At the check-in counter I admitted I’d messed up, then explained why I needed to reach Providence today. I asked if there was any way they could reroute me. I didn’t get angry. I wasn’t the drama mama.

            Houston, there is a problem. Flights to Newark were iffy. Thunderstorms were moving into the area later that day. Would the flight be able to land? Would connecting flights to Providence depart? It didn’t look good.

            Choosing the next option, I flew to Cleveland, then waited eight hours for the connection to Providence. Still not irritated…going with the flow. Trusting I’m in the right place at the right time.

            I was leaving messages everywhere, telling Katie the arrival was at 11:30 p.m., not 3:20 p.m. No point getting frustrated. Instead, I enjoyed the quiet to catch up on e-mail, read and be grateful I’d brought the laptop.

            At 5:30 p.m., I finally reached Katie. She’d been to the airport and was told my flights were cancelled. Not receiving any messages, she thought I was still in Houston. That’s when I found out what had happened with my original flight. Because all flights to New York City were cancelled, the passengers on my original flight were all stranded in Cleveland, with no flight out available. If I had told Pedro the correct time to pick me up, I’d have been stranded in Cleveland too. Instead I was booked on a flight to Providence.

            Isn’t this interesting? I hadn’t realized that I gave Pedro the wrong pick-up time. Not reacting, I took action. Catching up on my work, as well as getting to my final destination on time, was relatively easy.

How could I not trust and have faith that we are always in the right place at the right moment? Are you paying attention? Can you trust? Are you listening to your guidance system?

Listen to the inner voice and trust it explicitly.

For me, I can hear it. Some perceive with images,

others with sensations. We all have our own particular

way of expressing our innate wisdom.