Quote of the Week - June 11, 2012 - City of Angels

"I don't know you, but I love you." --Lydia at Unity of Burbank

I was in LA last week for the first time. I had never been before and never really had the desire to go. I still didn't really, but a class I had been wanting to take was being given there and then my sister decided to come out and meet me so it was all coming together.

Then, the class was cancelled. Ugh.

It was really hard for me to get over this. I had a plan gosh darn it. I was going to take this class, then the next one and then become a certified Akashic Records teacher. The Universe was messing with my plan.

You have to laugh, of course, at my boldness, my arrogance, my naïveté. The Universe was messing with MY plan?

I decided to go anyway, to spend some time with my sister and see what LA was all about.

I couldn't have been more surprised! The people we met were lovely. Warm, friendly and eager to help. We met many Los Angeles angels along the way.

Three angels on a bus helped us get to Santa Monica for a day at the beach where dolphins came to frolic in the waves for us.

Two of our angels led us astray when giving directions home (kudos to Angel #1 for telling them not to complicate things for us ;), but that allowed us to have our one and only star sighting - Sally Kellerman at the West Hollywood Whole Foods - to stock up on Pure Bars, and to meet our Cab Driver angel who gave us an impromptu tour of the Hollywood Hills.

Many public transport angels, plus the always angelic Siri,  helped us hit the Hollywood hot spots sans car and the big red (and expensive) tour bus. Two even gave us free rides. 

And then there was Lydia. 

On Sunday morning we hoofed it over to Unity of Burbank to hear a friend of my sister's give the message and we were surrounded by angels. 

From the moment we entered the building we were welcomed with open arms and open hearts by all we met. And everyone we met, it seemed, had a connection to either New York (where my sister lives) or Seattle. 

There was the man from Unity of Kent helping his Uncle with some home repairs. The woman from New York who still wore a Yankees pendant around her neck. The man from LA who used to lived in New York AND Seattle. And, of course, there was Lydia. 

She used to live in New York, had moved to LA in the 60's with her husband and family. Had raised her kids here and was now, mostly alone. She was quiet, a bit shy, but friendly. We chatted for awhile and then it was time for the service. 

It started with song as most Unity services do. First, "We Are One in the Spirit," which did our former Protestant hearts good to hear. Then "It's in Every One of Us," which was new to me, but lovely. And finally a rousing rendition of "Good Morning God." In spite of being a small congregation, they really know how to bring down the house at Unity of Burbank.

After the singing was the Opening Prayer and then the Welcome. 

When I said small congregation I was exaggerating slightly. The congregation is tiny. Around 25 people attend services on an average Sunday. 40 or so on a big day like Easter or Christmas. But boy is there a lot of love in this house. 

During the Welcome music is playing and everyone wanders around the sanctuary hugging everyone. And I mean EVERYONE. Why not? That's only 24 hugs!

I hugged the people I had met and people I had never seen before in my life. And I hugged Lydia. When I did she said to me, "I love you. I don't know you, but I love you." And with these words she touched my heart, brought tears to my eyes, and made my day. No, my vacation. 

Ever since, I think about her whenever I am surrounded by strangers and I ask myself, "Do I love these people even though I don't know them? Could I love them even though I don't know them?"

Sometimes it is hard enough to love those we do know, but loving those we don't, loving everyone, is what we are here to do. Lydia reminded me of that. She was an angel for me that day. Just one of many Los Angeles angels.