Strangers

I don't love Chinese food. I could take or leave it. I usually leave it unless I'm with a friend who loves it and I get a fortune cookie :) It's a good deal! Last Saturday I got a fortune cookie:

{Somebody needs a manicure!! And her name starts with 'K' and and with a 'T'}

How true and how perfectly timed. Last Saturday was the last day of a four day training I attended - Present Yourself. This training focused on being a messenger. Every day there are troubled people and times surrounding us. We can choose to see a problem and come up with solutions. As we share these solutions to those around us we become a messenger. We can be a messenger about anything! Any thing that we are passionate about that we feel will add to the value of others' lives. Whether its sharing the message of magical water from the mountains of China or, in my case, teaching others an art form so they can have a way to create to bring them closer to God.

While at this seminar I was blessed to meet so many amazing people! I started out in a room with 200 strangers. By the end of those 4 days a few of those strangers had become my trusted friends who did bring great meaning into my life and I believe they will continue to do so.

Angela: I met her the first day during our lunch break. I had walked over to the closest eating establishment and went outside to eat. She followed me out there, sat down next to me and then we were friends!

Mike: When I went back to the seminar I saved a seat for Angela. As the training was beginning a big burly man came and sat in the open seat next to Angela. They knew each other! They had gone to high school but hadn't seen each other since. What are the odds?? :) As the training came to a close tears were streaming down his face and his nose was running as he hugged me good bye. Tender hearted big cuddly bear!

Thomas: I saw Thomas the first day and thought he looked super familiar. I thought so again when I saw him the second day. I finally approached him and asked if he was from Rexburg. He was! We had met years ago at a trade show. He is a fireball - full of energy and very funny. He is my age, the father of 5 kids and one of the most creative minds I have ever met. He is the owner of a distributing company and is an amazing business entreprenuer who knows how to get things done!

Abrianna: We kept running into each other throughout the seminar and even danced it up together during the rockstar night. She is a young mother of a four year old. She aspires to be a mentor and is focused on her goals and will do anything to make it happen. She's an inspiration and we will be friends for years to come.

I love meeting people and getting to know who they REALLY are. How they think and what experiences have shaped their perspectives. I love finding out about their dreams they are pursuing. It reveals so much about their hearts.

My takeaway:

The love of God breaks down any barriers : social, age, schooling... ANYTHING. If we are focused on loving and helping others, we can lift any body wherever they are and great friendships will follow! How wonderful it feels to know we are not alone. :)