Image by Mabel Amber.
In this Article:
- What are divine appointments and how do they impact our lives?
- The significance of spiritual encounters and finding higher purpose.
- How to recognize and embrace divine appointments in daily life.
- A personal story of spiritual connection and its transformative power.
- Encouragement to seek deeper connections and be of service to others.
Living Our Lives with the Notion of "Divine Appointments"
by Barry Vissell.
Wouldn't it be great if we could live our lives with the notion of "divine appointments?" Rather than feeling that the people we meet are random acts, what if there is a higher purpose, a spiritual guidance, to those we meet? It may not be obvious at first, but with a little curiosity, and then a little probing, we may learn the deeper purpose, and the soul lessons, of each seemingly random meeting.
All this happened to me powerfully last week.
I crave the wilderness. Often, I'm alone, rafting down an isolated river for five days, or backpacking in places where I may not see anyone for days. Some think I'm crazy or reckless to do this, but John Muir, the famous naturalist, would cheer me on.
I find soul renewal and healing in these trips. Because Joyce has worried about my safety not being able to communicate with me for days, I now have a satellite communicator to check in with her each evening, or to send out an SOS if I'm in trouble.
Losing Sleep on The Lost Coast
My last trip didn't go very well. I was backpacking on The Lost Coast, a rugged remote twenty-mile stretch of coastline in the far north of California. It's one of my favorite places to go. However, on my second night out, our three golden retrievers (I guess I'm not really alone) decided I needed extra protection and barked almost non-stop the whole night.
In all fairness, there may have been a bear searching for a free handout. In their dog minds, I just needed protection. Grandma Gracie and Mother Honey were more polite. They barked some distance away from my tent. It's possible that I might have been able to sleep through their barking.
One and a half year-old Ruby, however, stayed right by my head just outside the tent, and barked so loud that it hurt my ears. She wanted to be near me, the pack leader, because she was scared. I spoke to her, and she quieted for perhaps five minutes. I yelled at her with the same results.
I thought of bringing her into my tiny backpacking tent, but she would only have room if she slept on top of me. Needless to say, I got no sleep the whole night, and ended my trip the next day exhausted.
Divine Appointment in the High Sierras
So last week, with my schedule free, I decided on a different kind of trip. I loaded our camper on top of my pickup truck, and set out for the High Sierras. It would not be the total solo immersion in wilderness that I like, but I was assured the dogs would be quiet sleeping in the back seat of the truck. And that they were. Heavenly silence from the canine world – all night long!
One night, I camped not far from a hot spring in the thermally-active Owens Valley. I woke up the next morning with the sun rising, illuminating the majestic High Sierra front range. I went for a soak, hoping to be alone to meditate in silence. But there was a young man at the tub. Of course, I had the choice to be silent and close my eyes. But then I thought about "divine appointments," and began to talk with him.
In a recent one of our weekly videos, Joyce spoke about the importance of deep conversations, taking the opportunity to go deeper with people. Shawn (not his real name) lives in Mammoth, and teaches skiing in the winter. When he heard I was from Santa Cruz, he mentioned how much he loves to go to The Land of the Medicine Buddha to walk and meditate.
I seized upon that as an inroad and asked about his spiritual path. He told me how important Ram Dass (a Harvard professor who became transformed after meeting his guru in India) was to him. His mother had given him her original copy of Be Here Now, held together by rubber bands. I told him all about our profound personal relationship with Ram Dass.
Shawn listened deeply, then suddenly burst into tears. He said he hardly ever cries, but now he couldn't stop. Between sobs, he told me his sad story. Last spring, he got bitten by a rattlesnake, almost died, and took a long time to recover. He got fired from his job, couldn't pay his rent so he was evicted, and now lives in his car.
Last night, in a moment of deep despair, he asked God for a sign, and for some light in his life. With tears running down his cheeks, he said, "I feel the love of Ram Dass coming through you. I've never felt it this strong. God clearly sent you to me. I just needed evidence that I am worthy of divine love and intervention."
Use Me As An Instrument of Love
I, too, had tears in my eyes, tears of profound gratitude and joy. It is my frequent prayer to be used as an instrument of love, and this was a clear example. I don't know if it was Ram Dass' love coming through me, or simply the love from my Higher Self. It doesn't matter. What mattered is my trusting that I had a divine appointment with Shawn, and then taking the risk to find out exactly what it was.
I empowered him to know that he would be used in a similar way to help someone else who was suffering. A big reason we are here in this world is to alleviate suffering, to help in any way we can.
So I tell all of you who read this: Be ready to help. Ask to be of service. Look for the divine appointments. Take the risks to go deeper with those you already know, and with complete strangers. It will bring joy not only to them, but also to you.
Book by this Author(s)
Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love
by Joyce and Barry Vissell.
Heartfulness means so much more than sentimentality or schmaltz. The heart chakra in yoga is the spiritual center of the body, with three chakras above and three below. It is the balance point between lower body and higher body, or between body and spirit. To dwell in your heart is therefore to be in balance, to integrate the lower three chakras with the higher three.
Click here for more info and/or to order this book. Also available as a Kindle edition.
About the Author(s)
Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors, near Santa Cruz CA, who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 10 books, their latest being A Couple of Miracles: One Couple, More Than a Few Miracles.
Visit their website at SharedHeart.org for their free weekly 10–15-minute inspirational videos, inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart, or to book a counseling session on-line or in person.
Article Recap:
Divine appointments refer to the seemingly random yet spiritually guided encounters we have with others, which carry a higher purpose and offer soul lessons. This article delves into the significance of these spiritual encounters and how they can shape our lives by bringing deeper meaning and connection. Through personal stories, it encourages readers to be open to divine appointments, take risks in connecting with others, and be of service, which ultimately brings joy and fulfillment to both parties involved.
