While hoofing it at Fashion Place Mall in Sandy, Utah last week, I managed to lose my driver's license.
I was all set to brave the lines at the Utah Drivers License Division today, but was spared when mall security notified me they had it. Just needed picture I.D. to reclaim it (passport), which I did . . . and then did three miles in the labyrinthine aisles, since I was there anyway.
On Monday, I had to go into the Social Security Office downtown Salt Lake City. I had been approved for Medicare before the May Tribune Surprise (mass layoffs), and had then applied for retirement benefits a couple weeks ago.
LifeLock thought that was strange, and raised a red flag over possible identity theft. So, I made an appointment online, only to find out the local office had no record of that . . . but after an hour's wait, got sent to another office where a polite (?) young feller cleared it all up . . . even told me I had an extra month coming, since my last day of work had been that dire second Monday in May.
Things worked out. The cynics among my friends will just have to indulgently smile when I say I credit prayer . . . for the outcome, or at very least for the peace I've had. (Live with it).
So, before the go-the-mall-and-recover-the-driver's license trip, I went to early morning men's meeting at Sts. Peter & Paul, where Fr. Justin shared a presentation on St. John Maximovitch (https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_(Maximovitch)_the_Wonderworker), a.k.a. St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
That's him, in the photo to the left.
His icon has a prominent place in SPPOC's nave, and I always smile when I enter and venerate him, and other saints. What an amazing, selfless, heroic and, yes, miraculous life he gave for God and humankind.
While the miraculous aspects of St. John continue to this day, with his relics and intercession credited for healings spiritual and physical alike, for me it is his actions -- on behalf of thousands of orphaned children, refugees, the poor in spirit and life -- that inspires me most.
