Editor’s note: Throughout July, we’re hosting 31 Days with St. Ignatius, a month-long celebration of Ignatian spirituality. In addition to the calendar of Ignatian articles found here, posts on dotMagis this month will explore the theme of “Finding God in the Unexpected.”
A landscaping truck-trailer was obstructing the road as I pulled out of my driveway. Taking great care to avoid hitting the mother of all landscaping vehicles, I scraped the passenger side of my car and toppled my roadside mailbox. I bellowed the name from the side of the truck as I marched up my neighbor’s driveway.
I was running late and running hot. The owner stepped forward with a smile, saying, “I am sorry. I only meant to park there for five minutes.”
I replied sharply, “I took out my own mailbox!”
As we walked side by side back to our vehicles, he offered, “Maybe I could get one of my guys to bolt your mailbox back in place.”
That was the moment I recognized God in the form of an olive branch. Surprised, I stopped to turn toward the landscaper, smiled slightly, and said, “I just came in hot, and you came back to me with a
