"There's no such thing as an accident.........".

About a year ago, I was driving coaches for a company who's logo is pretty much recognised Internationally.  Need a clue - a running dog on the sides of the bus!!!!!  I'd been warned by other drivers, that I should expect a dramatic increase in passengers at Christmas time, and so it was.  The volume of passengers increased to such an extent that the company contracted in 'foreign line' coaches to supplement the companies own fleet.  These foreign liners are local coach companies.

One night in late December, my schedule was to take a coach from Edmonton in Alberta Canada, to Jasper - also in Alberta Canada.  I was to leave close to midnight.  On arrival in Jasper, I was to hand over my coach and take a coach inbound from British Columbia (BC) and return to Edmonton.  Like all good plans, that is not exactly what happened.  Due to the lack of our coaches, I was to act as a 'conductor' on a foreign line coach.  This meant I performed all operator duties, bar actually driving.  When I got to the down town depot in Edmonton, I met the driver on who's coach I was to conduct.  The driver came over to me and introduced himself as Richard, shook my hand warmly and we got to chatting about the trip we were to jointly operate.

A simple run to Jasper would take about four and a half hours and there were limited stops along the way.  Before we set off, my dispatch located in BC advised me that we - Richard and I - may well have to carry on from Jasper to Kamloops BC.  That came as a surprise, but Richard assured me he knew where he was going, so off we set.  Richard is a great people person and we were soon chatting away passing the time and the miles as we headed into the snow filled night, en route Jasper.  Amongst the subjects we discussed was spiritual belief.  This was all the more fascinating for me as Richard is a full blood First Nations, of the Dene Nation.  Richard had a calm air about him, nothing seemed to trouble him.  He was an absolute delight to travel with.  We got on very well together and swapped cell phone numbers before we commenced the return trip to Edmonton.  I told Richard I'd really enjoyed his company and would love to meet up for a coffee if we were ever 'in town' together.  Dispatch then played another Joker which resulted in Richard and I returning to Edmonton in different directions.

Months went by, I was busy driving all hours and never did make that phone call.  Then fate took a hand.  Or more correctly, it was my time to contact Richard.  I have two Richard's in my cell phone and this day, I hit the wrong one by mistake.  The phone rang out, but the voice that answered was not the one I was expecting.  The Jamaican and Canadian accents are nothing alike - trust me!  Realising my error I rang off, and redialed my other friend.  A few minutes later my phone rang, I accepted the call to be greeted by Richard from the BC trip.  I apologised for disturbing him, and explained the mix up, I said it was a simple accident.  His response is still with me and was another part of my spiritual awakening.  He simply said,"there's no such thing as an accident, you were supposed to call me".  Knowing his spiritual heritage, I knew exactly what he meant.  From here I'll call Richard the 'messenger', Richard M.

Richard M knew how I was feeling about my current position, and passed on information about a job that I would find more agreeable.  It was still driving coaches, and it meant living away from home two weeks at a time.  However, I would get a whole week at home with no phone calls from dispatch, sending me on last minute tasks.  I could actually plan some recreation time for the first time in a year!  I followed up Richard M's lead, and the company I spoke with were very interested in me coming to work for them.  It appears that the quality of the training given by the 'Old Dog', was quite revered within the industry.  I must have received at least four phone calls asking if I was still interested in the job.  My wife Wendy said it could not be much more clear that I was supposed to take this job.  She was quite right, since I have been employed in this new position, I've not heard of anyone being given so many chances to accept.

The job I do is not hugely rewarding, but I know in my heart that I am where I am for a purpose.  At this time, I have no clue what that is, but I know I am supposed to be where I am in preparation for the next leg of my journey and this has been coming to me hard and fast in the last few days.