Mathew's Magical Moment (The birth of the blog!)

It started with the trash. I was working my job at Walt Disney World's Pop Century Resort in the food court when a little boy around 10 came up to me. I was changing a trash bag when I heard a sweet voice ask me, "excuse me, could you please clean our table?" Insert Mathew. It was his birthday and he and his family were celebrating at the most magical place on earth.

Now, I'll be honest. Right before this, I was really trying hard to remember why I had taken this job as I made the trek back and forth from the dumpster, lugging chewed up food and unwanted breadsticks, half eaten pizzas and deserts so dismantled there was no magic left in them. I hate taking out the trash. It was the least magical thing I could think of and I was regretting my decision of leaving my husband for 5 months to pursue my magical dream of being a cast member. But Mathew brought his own magic to this Cast Member.

We got to talking and I worked some Disney magic to get him and his sister two cupcakes from Mickey himself, as he revealed it was his birthday. This was a perk I loved to cash in on. Providing a little pixie dust for free things at Disney was our way of making extra magic for guests and I was happy to do this for Mathew and Anna Scott. His sweet mother came over, I later learned her name was Bridget, and I complimented her on how well behaved and polite her children were. She thanked me and gushed her thanks for the cupcakes from Mickey. That's when I felt a stirring in my spirit. Something that I've come to realize is the Holy Spirit alive in me. Tentatively, I asked if they were Christians. She beamed as she said yes! Instantly we were connected as we shared our faith. Overcome with God's presence, I plucked up my courage and asked if I could pray for them. I don't need to tell you she said yes.

I can't remember what was said, but I remember how God moved in that moment. He swept into the food court and I could tell He was with us in the conversation. A bit teary, I thanked them and said my goodbyes to go back to the trash. To say I was stunned by our interaction is an understatement.

That got my wheels turning. I knew I needed to document this special moment, and that afternoon before going into work, my mom mentioned that a family friend had been thinking of me and suggested I write a blog. It was like the lightbulb finally sparkled to life in my mind. In that moment, Divine Appointments was born.

I hurried back to my new friends and asked if I could write about this moment for my blog, which I felt God was putting on my heart to start. Bridget's mouth fell open in shock. Her husband, Scott, jumped in. "Mathew was just talking about how he wants to start a blog and write about this! Take this as your sign from God to go for it!"

I can't make this stuff up.

And so, Divine Appointments was born. All because of a sweet boy named Mathew and a family's faith in the Lord. I continue to keep up with the family to this day and had the pleasure to see Mathew and his family a second time before my college program was up at Pop Century Resort.

Let me encourage you, if you feel like your life is pointless, like you're doing nothing important, God can use that and make it into something beautiful. If I hadn't been taking out the trash that day, assigned to that task in that exact moment, I would have missed out on this magical interaction. Don't let where you are now negate what God can do in your circumstances. All you need to do is receive and respond to his presence, big or small. He just might be waiting for you in ways you never expected.

And just a warning? Taking out the trash might even do you some good.

With love,

Shannon M.