What Moment Will Change Your Life?

A single moment can change your life.  A single decision can have a lasting impact.  A single relationship can define you in ways you would never expect.

That single moment happened in Laura Schroff’s life over 25 years ago.  She was a successful advertising executive living in Manhattan.  Her life was full and her schedule even more so.

Crossing 56th street one day, she heard a panhandler’s voice.  “Excuse me, lady, I’m really hungry.  Do you have any spare change?”  She dismissed the request, moving quickly through the intersection.

Somewhere in the middle of the intersection is where that moment happened for Laura.  That decision.  Where the relationship started.  Laura stopped, turned around and went back to meet the panhandler.  His name was Maurice, and he was only 11 years old.  She said she didn’t want to give him money, but she would buy him some food at McDonald’s.

For many, that would be it.  A single act of goodwill.  Not for Laura and Maurice.  The one meal became a weekly dinner for years.  Their relationship has continued to grow over the past twenty-five years.

As Laura puts it, An Invisible Thread is the “story of the mysterious, unseen connections that exist between people who are destined to meet—and how, if only we open our eyes and our hearts to them, these connections can be the great blessings of our lives.”

I recommend this book because it will:

  • Give you perspective and uplift your spirit
  • Remind you of your blessings and increase your gratitude
  • Challenge you to help others less fortunate
  • Demonstrate that when you help others, you may be the biggest winner of all
  • Encourage you to take what you’ve been given and pay it forward

I purchased a case of books and have been giving them as gifts when someone needs an uplifting story.  This week, the paperback version is released for the first time.

 

Have you had a moment like this where everything changed for you? Do you have an example of an invisible thread where destiny was clearly in play? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
  • maurice
  • Maurice and family at chruch #2
  • Laura 50th party
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  • Gene Strickland

    I saw a small news bite about their relationship and cried  uncontrollably for a long time. It also brought back terrible memories I had as a child. One of ten siblings, my mother shot herself when I was only six. The botched attempt left all of us scattered through the social services system. I would not see some of them for another 30 years, we have never been a family since. My first of many foster homes, was a horrifying two day stint with an abusive pedophile, of which I ran away from. I finally made a trip to  prison with my final foster father, who cruely informed me that my birth father traded adoption rights to me for restitution money… I was basically traded to a child labor camp. Many years later the youngest brother and I finally met, we didn’t know we were related at the time. A few years later I found out his new name and where he was living, it was only 20 miles from me. A multitude of calls went unanswered, his wife finally informed me that he wanted nothing to do with me or any of the others…I was devastated and also unrelenting. He finally agreed to a meeting and when I realized who he was, I was floored. He worked for a very famous Country Western Singer, I was employed with the most famous Nascar driver ever…imagine that! His hero, I worked for. My hero was his employer. A few years of easing into a relationship, I decided to take a job on the road with him, to get to know him, (my very supportive wife’s idea.) Twenty five years later we are best of friends. He still has no contact with the other siblings, I am like “Switzerland, the neutral one. I wish a book like this had been around for me to read, hope is a vanishing dream when your world collapses and small children as Laura states are “very smart.” Fantastic book!

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      Gene, I’m so sorry to hear of all that you’ve gone through. What an amazing story YOU have, and you should consider writing it! I wish you much success, and a whole lot of healing. I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through.

  • Joyce Skokut

    Very nicely done Skip. Putting this on my “must read” list. I am a big believer in fate.

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      Thank you. It’s a remarkably positive story.

  • http://www.rawonionsoup.com/ Ronian Siew

    Damn awesome story.  Insanely powerful message here, Skip.  I really applaud Laura for her courage and work, and I am happy to see Maurice smile.

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      That smile is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Have a good week!

  • http://www.coolpeoplecare.org Sam Davidson

    What a powerful story! I’ll have to give this book a look. I agree – it’s the moments that change us, not the monuments. We need to be present and open to any random moment – only then could we experience a life changing event.

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      So true. We try to prevent our cups from being so full that we cannot accept more.

  • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

    Recalling a very painful time in my life in early 2001, my ability to trust was zero on a scale of 1-10. In the midst of that experience a very special friend came into my life. It wasn’t planned, but looking back it was a divine connection. We developed a wonderful  friendship. It was through his friendship and example I began to see what could be, that I could learn to love and trust again. He gave me hope. I am thankful for what he invested in my life at the time. It opened the door of my heart for what would happen years later.

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      And you are busy paying it forward…

  • Steve Pate

    This is a superb example of John Donne’s meditation, “No man is an island.”

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      Good quote. Thanks for adding the thought.

  • http://www.thadthoughts.com/ Thad Puckett

    Awesome and inspiring story.  I’ll have to queue up the book!  Thanks for making me think about that one moment (there can be more than one, right?).

    • http://www.skipprichard.com/ Skip Prichard

      Thad, glad you were inspired and want to read the full story. Life is full of these moments if we look. Have a good week!