Sometimes God is a Feisty German Woman

On a recent flight from Rwanda back to San Francisco, I had a tight layover in Munich—just about an hour to get from one gate to the next. As I stepped off the plane and into the terminal, a woman in an airport golf cart appeared almost out of nowhere. She asked where I was headed, then immediately whisked me off through the crowded airport. She didn’t seem to have a horn, so she simply called out for people to move as she navigated at full speed. She zipped me through customs and got me as close to my new gate as possible. By the time I arrived, the plane was already boarding.

Looking back, I realized I had no idea where I was going or how long it would have taken me to get there on my own. Moments like these remind me that God—or perhaps a guardian angel—is watching over me. Sitting in that golf cart, carried along by this kind woman’s determination, felt almost surreal. It caused me to reflect on how often I go through life unaware of the support the universe sends my way—sometimes through people who anticipate my needs before I even recognize them myself. 

Recognizing the ways that God or goodness is present in my life begins with paying attention and cultivating awareness. Noticing and acknowledging those people or experiences creates connection and gratitude. Seeing God in others involves cultivating inner qualities like empathy and humility, and practicing outward actions like offering kindness, support, and encouragement. Pay attention and notice this week who is offering you kindness or support, even when you didn't ask for them to do so. And make a point to acknowledge it. ​As William Arthur Ward, a prolific writer and author of inspirational quotes, has said, "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

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