Many times throughout my life, I have experienced events, that I will mention here.
Just a few days ago, I had an important meeting to attend, at the VA Hospital. Anxiously, I tossed the needed articles into my truck and began to arrange the topics of discussion into an organized outline for delivery. The clock ticked away, allowing me some moments to
rest and relax. Sitting in my truck I noticed that the minutes passed, more rapidly than I desired. Time to start the engine and depart to my destination had arrived.
The only event that occurred next was the disappearance of my keys. I went back into the house,
entered the den, looked on top of the desk, and found no keys.
I went to the kitchen gazed at the
countertop, no keys. Ok !! Where are my keys ? I noticed that the time had moved forward, giving me less time to frantically rummage through the rooms, looking for my keys.
Anxiety and angry about the circumstance I was in, I began to perspire and mumble words,
I used while on board ship. “My keys !!! Where are my keys ??” I loudly cried (screamed?).
The Municipal Garbage trucks were on the other block, the sound of the lifts getting louder.
I ran out to the curb and like a frightened field rat, I burrowed into the week's debris. Nothing !!
No Keys !!! Defeated !! I Surrendered !! A memory of my Granma flashed into my mind.
Granma told us many times about how she would request the aid of a Saint, named Anthony.
Saint Anthony of Padua !! Breathing slowly, I made the Sign of the Cross and quietly said
a short prayer of petition. Time seemed to slow down almost to give me a reprieve. “Ok !!
St. Anthony, Do your thing !!” Being still a bit agitated I went and sat down, half trusting
that any results would happen because of my prayer.
 |
| I will exalt my God and my King. I will bless your name, always and forever. Thanks for my keys, dear Lord |
I than felt a pinch, a bite, a gouge, on my right buttock. Thinking that I had possibly sat on a
spider or that a wasp had just been interrupted I jumped up. I grabbed the point of pain
and with an embarrassed jolt, I realized that the pain was caused by the missing set of
keys. I was happy that I found these in my pocket, and that no one else was near to see
the many fluorescent shades of red emanating from my face.
I gathered composure, started the truck, and drove to the meeting.While thinking of what to
say to the others about my tardiness, I said a prayer of Thanksgiving to St. Anthony of Padua.
I know that without his aid the event would have been different.
I learned a lesson that day about the practice of prayer....!! Instead of exhaustingly running
around attempting to solve life`s quagmires with my own limited ability. Praying sincerely
requesting the aid of Heaven's many Citizens, the Saints, ought to be a primary tool in
achieving the desired goal.
Ps: The meeting that I was to attend.....Well !! It was scheduled for the next month !!! 
!!!
