Our path to married life was still not a certain one. Like most couples, we were taking our time and getting to know each other properly. We decided to take a trip together to visit a very wonderful community in France called L’arche located in a village called Trosly-Breuil, near Compiègne.
This was to prove a special turning point in our relationship. Firstly because of Jean Vanier’s mother, Madam Vanier who we had tea within the house where she hosted twelve of the residents. She told us plainly, with a lovely smile, that we should get married. Coming from her, it was more like an order from the Lord!
We spent three days with Jean Vanier and his community, and it proved a rare blessing, making us think deeply about our commitment to a Christian community.
The second turning point was on our journey back. We set out to return to London and got a lift to Paris with two of the people from the community. They dropped us at the railway station where we could catch a train to the ferry. We had a long wait for the next train and realized it would be very late before we arrived in London.
As we sat in a nearby restaurant to wait out the time, Ursula pointed out that she had no food in the house and perhaps it would be a good idea to phone Carol in London and ask her to buy some and leave it there for us. I was not too keen on the idea, yet my arguments seemed to be pointless. Ursula had made up her mind.
She set off to the phone box which we had been told was at least a five-minute walk away but suddenly stopped halfway and thought “no need to worry, it’s late closing tonight and the shops will be open this evening by the time we get to Pimlico.” She promptly turned back, never going anywhere near the phone box.
We arrived in London, bought our food and decided that perhaps we delay our return to work till the Monday and have the Friday off.
When Ursula returned to her work in Millbank, Carol phoned her from the office across the road. Carol greeted her with the words, “Hey big spender! What’s all this extravagance, these phone calls from Paris?” Ursula was startled and Carol explained how the overseas operator asked her whether she would accept a person to person call from Paris. Carol agreed and recognizing the voice as Ursula’s, listened while the person at the other end asked her to buy some food as she had no supplies in the house. Carol obligingly said she would.
Five minutes later another call came from Paris and the same voice telling Carol not to worry as the shops were open late in Pimlico and she could buy it herself.
Ursula knew that she had not made any phone call. She had done nothing at all to trigger this intervention. She knew then, without a doubt, that God can ask His angels to do whatsoever he pleases. It was rather humorous really.
This was a very loving touch from the Father, our Father, her Father, helping her not to worry and removing any fear she may have had about our relationship. From then on, she accepted that these things can happen if God so choses and rarely questioned any of the strange events we have both experienced.
It is interesting to note that this was the very person that had warned Ursula to be careful of me and my so-called ‘psychic’ powers. Perhaps this was God’s way of showing her too, not to be afraid of God’s personal involvement in our every-day lives.
Carol became a close friend of both of us and a member of our house prayer group.