It was an inauspicious start to the week. (Note to self to begin to heed that piece of parental advice about not leaving valuables in the car). This Monday morning I came out from my exercise class to find a window of my car smashed in, the body damaged and my purse—with all the ID I had in the world and all my credit cards (but virtually NO money)—gone. Monday then became a blur of reporting, trying to rebuild my identity and trying to subdue my growing anger against the perpetrator of such a cruel act.

By Tuesday, I was somewhat back on my feet, armed with a single, temporary debit card. As I rooted through my (replacement) purse for the card, I remarked sheepishly to my cashier that I guessed my next purchase should be a wallet. She said, “ I have a spare wallet. I brought it to see if any of my coworkers wanted it as I had too many. It’s a bit funky but you look like you wouldn’t mind funky”. I left in possession of a funky indeed new wallet and a smile on my face.

Lesson: There is an abundance of kind and generous people in the world.

Wednesday, I was in about the same neighbourhood for a meeting and I was running late. I remember locking the rental car as I ran across the street but as I left the meeting I couldn’t find the keys. I realized that I had likely dropped them as I was running. Given the neighbourhood, I figured I would have to now have to make yet another call to the police to report my rental car stolen. To my great relief, the car was where I had left it – but with the door unlocked and the key in the ignition. Someone had found the keys and had returned them.

Lesson: There is an abundance of honest people in the world.

As the week nears its end, I am praying for the person who turned my life upside down and I’m giving thanks for those who helped to turn it back around.

Patricia Forrest