“Roughly when would you like to close on your house, Kathy?”

This was the casual question thrown out by my realtor Steve in Minnesota on a late summer day, in regards to timing of our cross-country move to Pennsylvania.  He was a little stunned when I quickly replied with:

  • “Well Steve, I know its only August, but I’d like the moving truck to arrive on Monday, December 18th.
  • I’d like to close on this house Tuesday, then my husband can drive east while I stay back with the kids.
  • Wednesday will be my son’s last day of school, then we’ll take an evening flight out.
  • Now in Pennsylvania, we’ll do a final inspection on Thursday.
  • We’ll close on our new home on Friday. Just in time for Christmas.”

Steve laughed, turning his head to the side to hide his rolling eyes. If you are curious, that is exactly how it happened. We got the keys to our current home on Friday, December 22, 2017.

I thought this perfectly-executed, cross-country move worked because I was in control. I thought it was my love of planning that resulted in these clockwork movements. Now I know better. It was the Universe guiding my hands and heart – like the Disney movie Moana, where the ocean carries the main character Moana safely to the shore where she needed to be next.

A stormy ocean, captured off the New Jersey coastline. © Kathy J. Sotak

Was there a time in your life where you were carried from one shore to another, because that is where you needed to be next?

Perhaps it was an unexpected job offer or job loss. Perhaps it was a move closer to aging parents or a move away towards your dream. Perhaps it was random seating that introduced you to your inseparable best friend. Perhaps it was a volunteer gig that became the doorway to your purpose. Whatever it was, it was where you needed to be next.

Sometimes, we aren’t sure where we are needed to be next. We may be distracted as we are tossed and turned by this turbulent, wild ocean. We may feel alone on the raft. We can’t see the shoreline and feel rudderless. We don’t realize that we are actually being moved to where we are needed to be next.

If you can’t see shoreline and your raft is rotting, try this as an instant meditative prayer: Visualize yourself on a big vast ocean. The waves are wild and the current is crashing. However, instead of being pummeled and ripped, you feel a comforting embrace. You now feel the thrill of riding on top of the waves. Know that the ocean has you safely in her arms. The waves gently cradle your body, lift you and move you. No matter how dark the storm, the ocean is carrying you gently to where you are needed to be next.

You may not realize it for years later, like me, that she placed you exactly where you need to be.