From Tobys Desk! July 20, 2015 B"H
When was the last time you felt on a high like the kinda high when you past your drivers test? Or the kinda high when your out of town kid is landing in a couple of hours from overseas? Or the kinda high when someone in your family is about to get engaged and your the only one that knows about it? (or so you think!)
Well, last weds. was the date I set aside to have a full relaxing massage for 2 hours my family had gifted me for my birthday! I davka delayed the gratification to get the most milage out of the anticipation, which is half of the fun. Right?
As I saw a lady pull out of a neatly row of 20 parked cars I smoothly glided my small car into its space thanking Hashem all the while that He had saved a space just for me, on this relaxed happy occassion! I was even more thrilled as I saw I was exactly on time and would not miss even one minute of the bliss that was awaiting for me.
In the rush to be on time, and 20 other cars were parked on the street so innocently, I assumed I had a great spot! So many cars cant be wrong, I thought to myself with a chuckle of confidence!
In my haste and very close climb into fantasyland (my massage 1 year too long ago) i didnt notice any street signs ,I didn't even think to look for one!
I smiled back at the ever wide-smile sweet voice counter lady and I knew right then and there I had my ticket into dreamland. I was going to fly away into my very own bliss ! My mind was wandering into 7th heaven as I floated away, into la la land as I felt totally relaxed and happy to be in a very blissful place in my mind and heart! oh! what a feeling!
I thanked the smiley lady at the counter and felt as though I were on tippytoes almost floating out the door with a huge thank you on my lips, and the door closed behind me.
As my eyes gaze across the street where I parked my car, I noticed a very strange scene. I had to blink twice extra to see if I was seeing right. Hey! whats that Tow truck doing with my car chained up to its back?
It was a huge two way street with cars flying in both directions and all I can see is My car slowly moving behind this 20' Tow truck!
I started yelling " Hey mister ! thats MY car!!" My voice was deafened by the traffic of cars running past. It was like in a dream and your screaming and no voice comes out!
I dashed across to the drivers side on the street so fast that all you can hear was honking from all directions, but I didn't hear it. I had to stop him.
The Tow truck came to a halt, and a 7' burly bikie looking man steps down out of his truck, his arms face and whatever I couldn't see covered in every possible tattoo, as scary as they get.
I cried out to him (as I assumed that may be my only weapon of influence!) "please please dont take my car! I have a meeting right no, someone is waiting for me! please dont take it I need my car!!"
I was hysterical.
Just the thought of it frightened me to cry, where are they taking my precious baby? My car? I need you!
He said it'll cost you $300 plus a ticket from the police to reclaim it. thats all
I cried harder and louder. He said "Come climb up on this step (which was 5' high) and you can get a ride with me there and pay and get your car back.
So there I was (coming from 7th heaven bliss of bliss treatment, that I waited for a whole year), pulling myself up several times to urge my small body up the 5' step to have the privilege of sitting right next to the 7' tattooed burly tow driver!
Hashem Yishmor I murmured under my breath several times!
Did you ever have the experience in your life where everything was just fine, and suddenly within a split second not even more, 'everything' changes!?
Like a case c"v of emergency etc.
So there I was having the experience. One moment I was in heaven enjoying my delightful birthday gift from my fsmily, and the next moment Im bawling crying my heart out in a strange bikiev looking guys tow truck! gevald!
The half hour ride was somewhat life changing in a way.
This scary man spoke to me in the most softest kindest manner I would not have ever imagined. He calmly asked me where I was from (trying probably to distract me from my sobbing)
His mannerism was not reflecting his outter gear at all!
Am I hallucinating? How can he be so gentle and so nice dressed in all that uniform of fear?
He calmed me down saying the whole way there, "Dear, It all happens for a reason. You will see, something good will come from this"
I said to myself. "hey Toby! thats 'your' line! You tell that to everyone! Whered he get that from?
The scary looking bikie guy kept reassuring me that there must be something good in everything bad that happens to us, "just open your eyes and look for it. Its there", he said.
I couldn't believe he actually calmed me down.
I paid the fine I apologised to the girl that I was to meet that was still waiting for me one and a half hours later 2 cups a tea and 4 nshei nesletters later, in my livingroom.
The Hashgocha Protis, the good in the bad is yet to unfold. It started unravelling slowly.
I learned the following
I learned that when moshiach is going to come I"H it wil be in a split second, it will be just like that! From one extreme of us living life, to suddenly, Hey! one second switch! Moshiachs here!
I remember when we had all our shabbos clothes laden out on a table in the hallway to be able to grab when Moshiach comes, so we would all be ready in a snap of a finger! Imagine 10 kids shabbos clothes all neatly lined up in the hallway, waiting for the split second calling that Moshiach is here! Quick! lets get dressed in our shabbos clothes to greet him!
The second lesson learned
To look for the good in every bad situation, no matter what.
The good here? Well, I got a lift to the car yard to reclaim my car! If he hadent waited that split second when I shouted out just as he was pulling away, I wouldve had to take a taxi ($50) and not get an easy lift.
Another lesson learned?
Dont judge a book by its cover
He may have looked scary, but was as gentle as a sheep. Outter appearances are just layers of coverup. Perhaps covering up a painful soul,a damaged past, who knows?
Beneath it all are real people with real feelings that just need people to see beyond their costumes.
What else can you learn from this experience?
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