Thank you Graham for the live today, to answer your question. In my role as an administrator at the hospital, I have the privilege of interviewing patients daily. Through these interactions, I've learned to recognize the subtle signs of loneliness and anxiety in others. It's often in those moments that a simple connection can make a significant difference. Even a warm smile can help do wonders. Also taking the time to listen and engage with someone who may be feeling isolated can truly brighten their day and foster a sense of community. I believe that being present and showing genuine interest in others is a vital first step in building meaningful connections.
I wrote about this very topic on my Substack page recently in a post called "Chance Encounters". I was on a flight last month and did my usual, friendly greeting to the passenger next to me after which I planned to read a book for the rest of the trip. She was friendly back and we chatted a bit throughout the flight. When the captain announced we'd be landing soon, she burst into tears. I was immediately, without hesitation, led to ask her if she was ok. She shared that she had lost her son a month prior and was still struggling. I knew my sitting next to her was not chance at all, but a God-designed encounter. I shared my story about losing our son, and she shared hers. When we went to deplane, she hugged me and thanked me for being who she needed in that exact space and time. What a reminder for me to stay open to when and how God might want to use me in someone else's life. Thanks for sharing your story in this live. God puts us where and with whom we need to be if we let him and pay attention! Enjoy your visit with your parents! Keep paying attention, Graham. Often our meetings are not "chance encounters" at all.
This was very touching. After losing our daughter I was a different person. Not bitter but questioning. People would call or come to visit and it became an expectation. I had feelings that they needed for me to be alright. It was very cathartic and I began to gain strength and focus on healing . I lived my life one step at the time and through prayer, family, friends, and new acquaintances my life has begun to shift into a new normal. God is good! Blessings to you Cathy.
It was a lesson for me, for sure, Gloria. Sometimes I can be so oblivious to those around me, but I'm working on being more sensitive to nudges to connect.
Hi Graham, thank you for sharing your inspiring insights.. The experience I would like share happened years ago but I will never forget .. I am a nurse.. I was working in hospice/ palliative care.. when I met Donna.. she was 29 yrs old with metastatic breast cancer and had given birth to a son 3 months earlier.. we connected on a level that was so strong, I can only explain as divine.. after months of treatment, she died.. at her service her husband shared a song that was their strength when she was going through treatment ( “Your love has lifted me Higher”)
I struggled after losing my patient.. and didn’t think I could continue to work in that field.. a few days later, I received a referral for another young person, 28 yrs old with osteosarcoma.. I sat in my car, crying.. thinking I just can’t do this again.. I tried to pull myself together to drive to my next patient.. started my car.. my radio was already on and guess what song had just started to play? Yes.. the song “ Higher and Higher” that Donnas husband spoke about at her funeral mass! I heard her say to me “ Pat, you can do this.. “! Still to this day, that song will come on unexpectedly, when I am struggling.. she is always with me..
in addition to my personal experience with Donna, 6 yrs later, my son was working in a daycare over his summer break.. and he came home one night sharing a story about a little boy whose mom had died when he was a baby.. I asked his name and his dads name, and unbelievably it was Donna’s husband and son!! I will never forget her or the impact she had on my life..❤️
OMG Patricia, thank you for sharing. This was such a beautiful, heart warmer story. Talk about divine guidance, God put you there because he knew you could do this. Things truly do happen for a reason. God bless you!!!!!
Thank you Graham for this topic. I just realised that I had a situation where that type of things happened to me. A few weeks ago I was with my son after he had been to see a specialist at the hospital and as we got into the lift to go down a lady got in as well. I looked at her and felt that she was close to crying. Then we went into the cafe to have a drink and I saw this lady sitting there on her own crying and I felt drawn to her. I went over and just said Hi you do look like you could do with a hug and she said who would hug me and she told me about her losses in life, a baby, her husband and daughter to suicide and that she had just found out that she had to have back surgery, sofelt like she had nothing to live for. So I asked if I could be one to give her a hug and she said yes so we had a big hug. Then she mentioned her grandchildren and so I said that is great you can pour your love into your grandchildren and you have lost of love to give. Then I sked her if she would like me to pray for her and she said yes so I did. All of this was new to me and took me way out of my comfort zone but it felt really good after I did it.
Eye contact and a smile have become my guidance outward start. Once that is made I get an overwhelming internal pull to start a conversation with a simple hello and a cordial nice day or some generic comment. God then does the rest with a reciprocal response from the person or a “move on” sign. I trust those signals! Thank you Graham for the live.
Thank you, Graham. I just finished watching the recording of this live. I never get to see them live because I get no notifications and I find it so annoying. I did want to make a comment here because just recently, like last week early my dear dear longtime, friend and former co worker who has been battling cancer for a little over a year now. Everything was looking positive going well, the doctors were pleased with her progress, and then she had a scan done that found something that was a setback. I felt like I needed to have a talk with her and not allow her to get depressed and help her in whatever way I could. For 3 days in a row, I called her every day and we talked about it, and I feel like she's in a better place right now. I just felt so compelled to do that. I felt like I really needed to help her, and I feel good about it. Divine guidance??? I think we had some success. Thank you so much, Graham, for your guidance!!!!! Enjoy the time visiting with your Mom and Dad. 👏👏❤️🙏🏻
I loved loved this video today. First let me say I am new to Substack, have no idea what I’m doing 🤣 and have never commented on anything, but for some reason after listening to this today I thought “why not?”. I love to meet new people, I will talk to a complete stranger anytime snd always enjoy the conversations. One of my favorite things to do is open a door for someone. It is such a small gesture but I know when someone opens a door for me it means so much. Such a small thing but meaningful. It just makes my heart feel good. Wishing you all a very blessed weekend. 🙏
The closest I can come to a full blown divine guidance happened a few years ago in my hospital room. I was recovering from a surgery. My roommate's daughter and husband had been with her for hours, but they were staying at a hospitality house with strict coming and going hours. After they left, the woman began to talk about where were they? Had they left her, etc. After some time of this, I drew a chair near her and opened a conversation. We soon discovered we grew up in the same denomination church. I asked if she knew the hymn that had been my mother's favorite. She nodded, so I began to hum, then sing a bit. She joined in, and we sang several hymns together. That led to some pleasantry conversation. When a nurse finally came in, she wrote on the blackboard what time the woman's husband and daughter would be returning, and my roommate was calmed to a peaceful sleep. As the nurse was leaving, she turned around to me and mouthed, "Thank you."
One of the things I look forward to in my daily walks is interacting with people along the way! I always say hello comment on their dogs and we stop to talk! One of the people we see along the way, commented the other day she thinks of us how we first met during covid times when we walked around the common!
Good evening Graham I must have been driving home from work when you did your live. This is a great topic. I’m a chatty Cathy with my patients sometimes I’ve gotten into trouble for chatting with my patients a little longer than I’m supposed to. But I have great connections with them. It makes them feel at ease when you take the time with them. Som patients feel rushed with the doctor and feel like they are just a number. Get them in and out go to the next patient. But when you give them the attention and listen they are so grateful of your listening ear. And it makes their experience so much better. And it makes you feel good inside as well.
I hope you have a nice visit with your parents take care Graham.
I have experienced a lot of Divine Guidance. I am always open to the possibilities. I love those moments, but they drive my family crazy -- when they are with me. "Do you have to stop & talk to everyone?" Yes, I do. Ha Ha!
Graham I believe divine guidance led me firstly to you which has enabled me to meet so many like minded people thru Time has come. We all like one big Whanau or family and it is wonderful.
I would love to delve deeper into this subject, Graham. I believe that there is purpose in every connection we make. I have met 'old souls' and have a sort of 'deja vu' feeling as if I already know them. The connection is instant when that happens and it is so beautiful.
I remember a particular incident similar to the one you shared. I was walking my dogs along the cliff path close to my home and there was this man sitting on bench overlooking the sea 🌊 he was drinking a cup of coffee and reading a book 📖. As I got closer he looked up and said good morning - we ended up having an amazing deep conversation that really spoke into my life in a way he could never have known. It felt like meeting an old friend - almost like an angel - it was a Divine encounter at a time I had been praying for guidance. We said goodbye 👋 and I continued on my walk 🚶♀️- after a few hundred yards, he shouted after me and beckoned me back. He said that as we were talking he had felt prompted by God to give me the book he was reading 📚- but he was reluctant as it was his favourite book 📖 but as I walked away, the feeling got so strong he was pulled to listen to God's guidance and so he gifted me the book and said I would find the answers i sought within it. He was correct! The book was - 'In the Grip of Grace' by Max Lucado - and what followed is a much longer story I would love to share with you.
To cut it short - it was a book filled with metaphor that I loved - and I ended up writing a script based on one of the themes that was subsequently re-enacted during an Easter festival in our town.
Sorry this is a long post 📫 so much of your sharing holds a deep resonance with me.
Graham, thanks for sharing your experience today. Your spontaneous Lives are always enjoyable and inspiring. My experiences with guidance from God are usually about me growing, expanding, exploring, a different take on things. But this week has been totally different. I've been battling a bout of diverticulitis and God's guidance has been loud and clear... stop, go to bed, let go, let others handle things, it will be fine ... stop! I fought it for a couple of days as these few weeks before Easter are really busy. But finally II did stop ... and of course, others willingly stepped forward all is well. God is good!
Prayers for you as the possible opportunity you mentioned unfolds according to God's plan for you.
I try to walk my dog every day (unless I have to commute to the office) and I run into other dog walkers or people that just love dogs or animals. I was painfully shy as a young girl but now I’m pretty vocal 😉. I take my cues from their facial expressions and body language. Eye contact and a warm smile usually works for me to open a conversation. It’s fun to learn from others. People are fascinating!
Thank you Graham for the live today, to answer your question. In my role as an administrator at the hospital, I have the privilege of interviewing patients daily. Through these interactions, I've learned to recognize the subtle signs of loneliness and anxiety in others. It's often in those moments that a simple connection can make a significant difference. Even a warm smile can help do wonders. Also taking the time to listen and engage with someone who may be feeling isolated can truly brighten their day and foster a sense of community. I believe that being present and showing genuine interest in others is a vital first step in building meaningful connections.
You are the embodiment of a true angel, Irene. I truly believe that.
You are a blessing Irene. It's wonderful how God guides your beautiful heart.
You are doing important work Irene ... in a place where God knows you are needed and can make a difference. ❤️🙏
Irene, thank you for all that you do for your patients.
Thank you for sharing.
It takes grace and love to effectively communicate with patients…it’s a gift you obviously are blessed with!
I wrote about this very topic on my Substack page recently in a post called "Chance Encounters". I was on a flight last month and did my usual, friendly greeting to the passenger next to me after which I planned to read a book for the rest of the trip. She was friendly back and we chatted a bit throughout the flight. When the captain announced we'd be landing soon, she burst into tears. I was immediately, without hesitation, led to ask her if she was ok. She shared that she had lost her son a month prior and was still struggling. I knew my sitting next to her was not chance at all, but a God-designed encounter. I shared my story about losing our son, and she shared hers. When we went to deplane, she hugged me and thanked me for being who she needed in that exact space and time. What a reminder for me to stay open to when and how God might want to use me in someone else's life. Thanks for sharing your story in this live. God puts us where and with whom we need to be if we let him and pay attention! Enjoy your visit with your parents! Keep paying attention, Graham. Often our meetings are not "chance encounters" at all.
This was very touching. After losing our daughter I was a different person. Not bitter but questioning. People would call or come to visit and it became an expectation. I had feelings that they needed for me to be alright. It was very cathartic and I began to gain strength and focus on healing . I lived my life one step at the time and through prayer, family, friends, and new acquaintances my life has begun to shift into a new normal. God is good! Blessings to you Cathy.
Cathey, thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. I also like what you said about "Paying Attention".
Thank you.
It was a lesson for me, for sure, Gloria. Sometimes I can be so oblivious to those around me, but I'm working on being more sensitive to nudges to connect.
Hi Graham, thank you for sharing your inspiring insights.. The experience I would like share happened years ago but I will never forget .. I am a nurse.. I was working in hospice/ palliative care.. when I met Donna.. she was 29 yrs old with metastatic breast cancer and had given birth to a son 3 months earlier.. we connected on a level that was so strong, I can only explain as divine.. after months of treatment, she died.. at her service her husband shared a song that was their strength when she was going through treatment ( “Your love has lifted me Higher”)
I struggled after losing my patient.. and didn’t think I could continue to work in that field.. a few days later, I received a referral for another young person, 28 yrs old with osteosarcoma.. I sat in my car, crying.. thinking I just can’t do this again.. I tried to pull myself together to drive to my next patient.. started my car.. my radio was already on and guess what song had just started to play? Yes.. the song “ Higher and Higher” that Donnas husband spoke about at her funeral mass! I heard her say to me “ Pat, you can do this.. “! Still to this day, that song will come on unexpectedly, when I am struggling.. she is always with me..
in addition to my personal experience with Donna, 6 yrs later, my son was working in a daycare over his summer break.. and he came home one night sharing a story about a little boy whose mom had died when he was a baby.. I asked his name and his dads name, and unbelievably it was Donna’s husband and son!! I will never forget her or the impact she had on my life..❤️
OMG Patricia, thank you for sharing. This was such a beautiful, heart warmer story. Talk about divine guidance, God put you there because he knew you could do this. Things truly do happen for a reason. God bless you!!!!!
Wow! Thank you for sharing your story Patricia!❤️🙏
Such a beautiful story.
Thank you Graham for this topic. I just realised that I had a situation where that type of things happened to me. A few weeks ago I was with my son after he had been to see a specialist at the hospital and as we got into the lift to go down a lady got in as well. I looked at her and felt that she was close to crying. Then we went into the cafe to have a drink and I saw this lady sitting there on her own crying and I felt drawn to her. I went over and just said Hi you do look like you could do with a hug and she said who would hug me and she told me about her losses in life, a baby, her husband and daughter to suicide and that she had just found out that she had to have back surgery, sofelt like she had nothing to live for. So I asked if I could be one to give her a hug and she said yes so we had a big hug. Then she mentioned her grandchildren and so I said that is great you can pour your love into your grandchildren and you have lost of love to give. Then I sked her if she would like me to pray for her and she said yes so I did. All of this was new to me and took me way out of my comfort zone but it felt really good after I did it.
Love this! There are those gifts of discernment and encouragement once again!
Hello,
Thank you. I felt your hug as you gave your new friend one.
Thank you for the hug.
Teresa, that was absolutely a beautiful thing you did.👏👏👏👏👏
Eye contact and a smile have become my guidance outward start. Once that is made I get an overwhelming internal pull to start a conversation with a simple hello and a cordial nice day or some generic comment. God then does the rest with a reciprocal response from the person or a “move on” sign. I trust those signals! Thank you Graham for the live.
Love this Linda. The signs are always there if we pause and listen!
Thank you Graham!
It is my strongest belief that everything happens for a reason.
Hello, I agree.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Graham. I just finished watching the recording of this live. I never get to see them live because I get no notifications and I find it so annoying. I did want to make a comment here because just recently, like last week early my dear dear longtime, friend and former co worker who has been battling cancer for a little over a year now. Everything was looking positive going well, the doctors were pleased with her progress, and then she had a scan done that found something that was a setback. I felt like I needed to have a talk with her and not allow her to get depressed and help her in whatever way I could. For 3 days in a row, I called her every day and we talked about it, and I feel like she's in a better place right now. I just felt so compelled to do that. I felt like I really needed to help her, and I feel good about it. Divine guidance??? I think we had some success. Thank you so much, Graham, for your guidance!!!!! Enjoy the time visiting with your Mom and Dad. 👏👏❤️🙏🏻
I respect your caring enough for your friendship to “counsel” her through her depression. You were a blessing to her.
I loved loved this video today. First let me say I am new to Substack, have no idea what I’m doing 🤣 and have never commented on anything, but for some reason after listening to this today I thought “why not?”. I love to meet new people, I will talk to a complete stranger anytime snd always enjoy the conversations. One of my favorite things to do is open a door for someone. It is such a small gesture but I know when someone opens a door for me it means so much. Such a small thing but meaningful. It just makes my heart feel good. Wishing you all a very blessed weekend. 🙏
Welcome Vicki. Thanks for sharing and being here🙏🏼 Small gestures can mean a lot!
Welcome Vicki , you are going to love this wonderful little community!! 🫶
The closest I can come to a full blown divine guidance happened a few years ago in my hospital room. I was recovering from a surgery. My roommate's daughter and husband had been with her for hours, but they were staying at a hospitality house with strict coming and going hours. After they left, the woman began to talk about where were they? Had they left her, etc. After some time of this, I drew a chair near her and opened a conversation. We soon discovered we grew up in the same denomination church. I asked if she knew the hymn that had been my mother's favorite. She nodded, so I began to hum, then sing a bit. She joined in, and we sang several hymns together. That led to some pleasantry conversation. When a nurse finally came in, she wrote on the blackboard what time the woman's husband and daughter would be returning, and my roommate was calmed to a peaceful sleep. As the nurse was leaving, she turned around to me and mouthed, "Thank you."
Such grace you afforded her.
The word GRACE means a lot to me. Thank you djorgen!
Love this story PD.
One of the things I look forward to in my daily walks is interacting with people along the way! I always say hello comment on their dogs and we stop to talk! One of the people we see along the way, commented the other day she thinks of us how we first met during covid times when we walked around the common!
Good evening Graham I must have been driving home from work when you did your live. This is a great topic. I’m a chatty Cathy with my patients sometimes I’ve gotten into trouble for chatting with my patients a little longer than I’m supposed to. But I have great connections with them. It makes them feel at ease when you take the time with them. Som patients feel rushed with the doctor and feel like they are just a number. Get them in and out go to the next patient. But when you give them the attention and listen they are so grateful of your listening ear. And it makes their experience so much better. And it makes you feel good inside as well.
I hope you have a nice visit with your parents take care Graham.
I have experienced a lot of Divine Guidance. I am always open to the possibilities. I love those moments, but they drive my family crazy -- when they are with me. "Do you have to stop & talk to everyone?" Yes, I do. Ha Ha!
Haha 🤣
That's me, and my kids always say thr same😂
My Mom was the same!! My brother always said to her “Mom you would talk to a wall”!! Everyone loved her!!
Graham I believe divine guidance led me firstly to you which has enabled me to meet so many like minded people thru Time has come. We all like one big Whanau or family and it is wonderful.
I'm so grateful to Time has come for getting to know you. So far away and still so close to my heart!1💖
Thank you Bie, love you too❤️❤️❤️
And that divine guidance, Ann, brought me to you. ❤️🙏
Barbara I thought about you immediately. Listening to Graham with his chance meeting today was just like you and I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
God puts us where we need to be.❤️🙏
I would love to delve deeper into this subject, Graham. I believe that there is purpose in every connection we make. I have met 'old souls' and have a sort of 'deja vu' feeling as if I already know them. The connection is instant when that happens and it is so beautiful.
I remember a particular incident similar to the one you shared. I was walking my dogs along the cliff path close to my home and there was this man sitting on bench overlooking the sea 🌊 he was drinking a cup of coffee and reading a book 📖. As I got closer he looked up and said good morning - we ended up having an amazing deep conversation that really spoke into my life in a way he could never have known. It felt like meeting an old friend - almost like an angel - it was a Divine encounter at a time I had been praying for guidance. We said goodbye 👋 and I continued on my walk 🚶♀️- after a few hundred yards, he shouted after me and beckoned me back. He said that as we were talking he had felt prompted by God to give me the book he was reading 📚- but he was reluctant as it was his favourite book 📖 but as I walked away, the feeling got so strong he was pulled to listen to God's guidance and so he gifted me the book and said I would find the answers i sought within it. He was correct! The book was - 'In the Grip of Grace' by Max Lucado - and what followed is a much longer story I would love to share with you.
To cut it short - it was a book filled with metaphor that I loved - and I ended up writing a script based on one of the themes that was subsequently re-enacted during an Easter festival in our town.
Sorry this is a long post 📫 so much of your sharing holds a deep resonance with me.
Blessings 💜 🙏
Graham, thanks for sharing your experience today. Your spontaneous Lives are always enjoyable and inspiring. My experiences with guidance from God are usually about me growing, expanding, exploring, a different take on things. But this week has been totally different. I've been battling a bout of diverticulitis and God's guidance has been loud and clear... stop, go to bed, let go, let others handle things, it will be fine ... stop! I fought it for a couple of days as these few weeks before Easter are really busy. But finally II did stop ... and of course, others willingly stepped forward all is well. God is good!
Prayers for you as the possible opportunity you mentioned unfolds according to God's plan for you.
I try to walk my dog every day (unless I have to commute to the office) and I run into other dog walkers or people that just love dogs or animals. I was painfully shy as a young girl but now I’m pretty vocal 😉. I take my cues from their facial expressions and body language. Eye contact and a warm smile usually works for me to open a conversation. It’s fun to learn from others. People are fascinating!
Hello,
Thank you.