The Right Place at The Right Time

The most amazing thing happened tonight.  I was sitting, waiting for the SA meeting to start and in walks my friend, J.  We grew up together and were in the same ward in California for 6 or 7 years.  He gave me a huge hug, sat down next to me and we started catching up.  I saw him last at my dad's funeral about 18 months ago, but before that, it had probably been 10-15 years since I had seen or talked to him. 

When he walked in, he looked like he was walking in with purpose to talk to someone specific.  Since I am new to the meeting, only been a few times, it gave me the impression that he had been to this meeting before and that I was the one maybe "intruding" on his meeting.  Needless to say, I was surprised when he raised his hand when they asked if it was the first time for anyone.  Surprised and panicked.  What was I supposed to say or do or be?  I had come to the meeting with the intention of being really honest about some of the issues I had been struggling with the past week.  Could I still go through with that now?

When the sharing portion of the meeting started, there were long periods of silence between each share.  I was already over-anxious about sharing in front of him, and finally realized if I didn't say something now, I wouldn't.  I led with how shocked and scared I was that my childhood friend was in the room.  And then explained that I also knew that meetings were a waste of time if I wasn't brutally honest about what I was dealing with.  After my share, he put his hand on my knee and said we were good.  He then shared a bit about his experience with addiction.

We went to dinner with a friend of his after the meeting.  It was one of the best experiences I've had recently.  Conversation between the three of us flowed naturally and with ease.  We shared addiction moments, testimony moments, our struggles, our victories and ourselves.  At one point, the friend asked if it was weird for us to sit and talk so openly about these things.  J didn't hesitate with a resounding, "No.  It feels right."  And it did. 

I felt the spirit so many times tonight with so many things that the three of us shared.  I know this was Heavenly Father's hand in our lives.  I stopped believing in coincidence a long time ago.  The fact that J picked this meeting on this particular night isn't random.  The fact that I picked this meeting isn't random either.  He had been thinking about attending this meeting for a long time, but hadn't.  He happens to decide to come after I've moved here.  No coincidence there. 

As part of his share tonight he said that attending meeting with people that he knows, respects and admires is validating to him.  I agree.  Connecting with others and feeling part of something with people you admire and respect is an amazing thing.  Especially when the connection is real, authentic and honest about something as destructive as addiction. 

Not only that, but this is an answer to my prayers as well.  I know I have to start dating and attending single events, but have been petrified to begin.  How could I go somewhere alone and put myself out there with no one on my side?  J gave me a hard time tonight about being involved in activities and invited me to attend his single adult ward.  Now, I can go and have someone to go with.  No coincidence here at all.

"He answers quietly, reaches my reaching, in my Gethsemane, Savior and friend."
These words from the hymn, Where Can I Turn for Peace?, have been running through my head the last two days.  Reaches our reaching.  That is the Savior I know. That is the God I know.  When we put ourselves in the right place, even an addiction meeting, He reaches our reaching with His own answers.  I have seen that in my own life and know that to be true.