Losing my Phone & Finding God

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

Show of hands: How many of you have ever lost your phone before?

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Hah – yeahhhh. For those that are blessed enough to not be sheepishly raising their hand right now, let’s just say — it is a nightmare I wouldn’t wish on Regina George.

So I lost my phone on Saturday night.

And before you jump to conclusions based on my last post about my drinking habits, and the fact that this occurred at 2am on Saturday evening, let me preface by saying…

a) I was sober.

b) It fell out of my back pocket.

c) And was left in an Uber.

Very long and painful story short: Two identical black Ubers pull up to the apartment building at the same time. We get in one. The driver asks: “Are you Charlie?” Nooo…. So then the driver, in a very aggressive and heavily accented voice, shouts at me, “Get out – not your car! Not your car! Get out!” 

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And me, having debilitating people pleaser tendencies, scrambled to get out of the Uber as fast as humanly possible. “Ok! So sorry sir! So sorry!” 

And as I scooted across the back seat, my phone fell out of my back pocket.

And that was the last I saw of that beautiful piece of Apple hardware. Because since it was not my Uber, I had no way of contacting the driver to get it back.

And after spending literally 90 minutes scouring the Uber website for a general contact number, I came up with diddly squat.

The annoying part: My phone hadn’t been backed up since 2015. And so I lost all 10,843 of my photos.

Yes, you read that number correctly. 10,843.

I hord photos like a territorial dog in heat.

10,843 photos: poof. Gone.

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Anywho, I had to spend my entire Sunday on a wild goose chase to get this phone situation straightened out. At one point I literally had to take an hour-long identity test to prove that I am who I said I was, since I reported my phone as lost.

In the end, I did get a new phone. Still no photos. HOWEVER. There was a beautiful silver lining in all of this.

And it was in the sweet soul of a human that helped me at the store.

She was about my age. And I knew that we were going to hit it off from the very beginning because the first thing she said to me was, “Girl, your eyeballs are beautiful.”

And – *sigh* sometimes during a really cruddy day, you just need to hear a compliment, gosh darnit. So ThankYouVeryMuch – I’ll take it. 

But seriously though. I was in the store for two hours when all was said and done. And there was a lot of down time – waiting on hold with my cell phone carrier, verifying my identity, confirming my identity by calling my father…yadda yadda yadda.

And in the process, this girl tells me her life story.

And wouldn’t you know, her mom had just had a stroke last year, too.

I mean, I honestly think that God brought the two of us together that afternoon for a reason, because this girl just needed to tell her story.

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She had had such a tough life. She was telling my about how she practically raised her two younger brothers. She put herself through college by working two jobs, and had gone through such an emotional year with her mom.

And for a good 30 minutes, I just listened as she fought back tears, and was just finally having someone to listen to her story – even if it was just the “eyeball girl with the lost phone.”

After she finished her story, and we had a cathartic “sister-I-feel-you” hug, I just looked at her and felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to say something.

The whole time she was talking, I just got this feeling that she believed in God. And that God was part of her story, she was just hesitant to share it with me.

And so I looked at her, and was just like, “You know, I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through this last year with my mom without God.”

And it was honestly like I had just told her that we were long lost sisters, reunited at summer camp – because I could physically see this sigh of relief and affirmation come over her chest.

And for the next 10 minutes, we just talked about how God was the one who got us through when we were scared or angry or at our wit’s end. And the connection was honestly just so beautiful.

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Walking home from the store that afternoon, new iPhone in hand, I was just struck by how grateful I was to have had that interaction.

Because I was thinking about it, and I have been incredibly blessed to have this outlet here on BBB, to be able to share my story. These last 9 months – with my mom’s stroke – have been such a life changing and at-times-frightening season of my life, and I am just so grateful to have the love, prayers, and support that you all have shown.


But not everyone has that.

That girl yesterday…she needed to share her story.

She needed to be heard. To be affirmed. To know that she wasn’t alone.

And walking home yesterday, I just was praising God that our paths crossed, and that she felt comfortable enough to open up and let me into that vulnerable part of her heart. That took a lot of courage.

No man is an island. And sometimes it’s just nice to know that there’s someone out there who knows what you’re going through.

So once again, God was able to use everything — even a lost phone — for good.

And funny how, when I literally am without a phone, and therefore don’t have my face buried in my screen – that I have this incredible interaction — because I am present and available to those around me – in the moment. Perhaps that’s another takeaway from the day.

Those 10,843 photos – maybe I need to just stop trying to freeze time, and instead fully live in the moment.

Because I did today, and God showed up, big time.

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

282 thoughts on “Losing my Phone & Finding God”

  3. So sweet of you to take the time to listen. It is what she needed at that moment. You see God works in mysterious ways and it was for you to be there on the day the young lady needed someone to hear her. You may never know what your presence did for her life but since God sent you there, I’m sure it was nothing short of a Miracle. Blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I loved your post! God has repeatedly taught me that inconveniences are unforeseen blessings. It helps me leave the pity party and get real. 😛 I’m so glad you were able to encourage that girl! God is awesome.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. While I’ve never lost my phone, I felt connected to your story. My mom was diagnosed with cancer last spring and a friend I wasn’t that close with at the time and I went out for coffee and that’s whwre I mentioned to her my mom had cancer. Well, turns out her mom also had a serious medical problem and we bonded over that and God and talked for hours. It was one of those moments that was so positive for me in a time that I needed positivity more than ever. Thanks for sharing your story, I loved it! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  10. “NOW is the time of God’s favor;TODAY is the day of salvation.”
    It’s hard to be alert and watchful. But that’s what our Lord commands of us.
    As we learn, experience that divine reality, we take hold of much good fruit in our lives.
    Thank you “Writer”

    Like

  14. Such a lovely story Caralyn. It’s strange how God sets us on a path into other people’s lives and we always wonder “Why?”. We don’t readily see the impact we have on the other person or vice versa, but in some shape or form that encounter whether it be long or brief has special meaning Your posts are truly inspiring, thanks for sharing!

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  17. This is amazing. I just love how God takes us through a series of unpredictable events and then puts us where He can use us the most. What a wonderful connection He conducted yesterday. I know that an impact has been made on both of your lives. This is a beautiful testimony. God bless you.

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  20. Caralyn,
    Sorry that you lost your phone, all of those photos (I love taking and storing tons of photos), and that the guy was rude to you. Hopefully, your phone carrier was able to somehow miraculously lock that phone. It is a miracle how God works.
    On another note, it really makes you feel more purposeful and blessed in those moments when someone touches your life or you touch their life somehow.
    Finally, I met Tenth Avenue North finally while on our honeymoon at SoulFest in New Hampshire. Great band. Great message. One song that came to mind when I was nearing the end of your post was, No Man is an Island.
    Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlw3jG2pE8w
    God Bless always

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Isn’t it funny how people will openly and in detail tell their whole life story to a stranger in public but unwilling to openly say GOD? When did testifying to your faith become shameful? What has happened to this world?

    Liked by 1 person

  23. This kills me. You lose your connection to virtual reality, and the Holy Spirit (the world-wide-web of love) organizes this meeting with somebody that really needed your witness.

    Nudge, nudge. Hint, hint. Wink, wink.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Gods’ grace and mercy shines through at the most opportune time! You were “Johnny on the Spot” for that girl and in turn, you received a blessing yourself. Kudos Caralyn – (for being what God wants us all to be)!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Love it love it love it!
    PS I’m a total people pleaser, too, but I’ve been finding it so helpful to learn about Gretchen Rubin’s 4 Tendencies….around how we deal with outer madness inner expectations. The section in her book on obligers was so helpful!
    Love how open you are to others, and how that moment became so special when fully embraced!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Beautiful. You were clearly listening deeply & through that listening the correct response emerged & through that you were able to see what you both had in common ie the connecting thread that made both your paths cross. Losing your mobile phone was the catalyst that brought that together. It shows how the universe conspires to bring us to where we need to be at any given time for whatever reason the universe requires us to be there & there is such compassion in that 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  37. What a beautiful story of how God takes our disasters and turns them into opportunities. “No man is,an island”… My pastor sent me a video link by that title to show as we open worship this week. I think there is,something God’s trying to grab my attention with there.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Sorry about your phone and glad you could get another one- a better one I hope😉
    God works in mysterious ways. Like it says in the good book, ‘In all things, give thanks’
    I am sure losing your phone was a plan beyond mortal hearts for you to be able to touch and help someone. I got thinking that what if the lady at the store had not poured her heart out to you, she could have taken a drastic action.
    God bless you. May God replenish all you have lost a hundred fold

    Liked by 1 person

  41. It’s taken me way too long to visit your site, but I’m so glad I did. You’ve been such a faithful visiter to 27 Crosses, and seeing your beautiful face sitting in the “likes” has been a great encouragement to me. Loved your story about losing the iPhone and meeting up with someone who needed your friendship. God is good! By the way, congratulations on your new book. I know it will help many people. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Wow, this is so inspiring. To see good even in bad situations and believe in the saying that everything happens for a reason. I needed this big time given how often I’m thrown into such situations.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. I absolutely love the part where you say you need to stop trying to always freeze time and instead live in the present. That is something I have tried to instill in my life lately. Instead of always feeling guilty about the past and stressing about the future, I instead should just embrace the present. Great post!!

    Liked by 1 person

  45. I thought this story was beautiful. I’ve pretty much done away with social media to be able to experience life in front of me. I have definitely had moments where I believe God put people, events and obstacles in my way to keep me on a set path, so I definitely feel ya. I would like to say that even though your phone hasn’t been backed up, you may want to try using Find My iPhone to get a location on it. I find it surprising that you didn’t do that or weren’t told to try… but I believe that you were used to help that girl in that moment. And hopefully you can use that to find your phone. 10K photos is a lot to lose, and sometimes captured moments are just as important as the experience.

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  46. I don’t believe in coincidences. We go through and experience things in our lives that allow us to help others, or God puts others in our paths that are able to help us. We have to look past the pain and heartache, and seek God’s purpose in it all.

    “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭ESV‬‬
    http://bible.com/59/rom.8.28.esvhttp://bible.com/59/rom.8.28.esv

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  49. I hope you had a chance to listen to that Tenth Avenue North song. I was going to suggest the same thing. Keep trusting and trying and God will guide you along the “Little Way” to holiness and happiness on His terms.

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