the clear air

A Universal Conspiracy Theory
(aka Pay Attention)

So on the first night there I was, alone on the third floor at a desk in a wide-open space. I was working late. Empty desks, chairs, papers and books, computers and telephones filled the room that was as large as a penthouse suite.

He emerged. I saw him emptying the wastebaskets on the opposite side of the room. He was the janitor for that floor, dressed in blue uniform. The name “Lopez” was on the patch on the left side of his shirt. He was a very short man. He had reddish skin and a very ancient Guatemalan look. As he got closer to me, he said with his heavy Spanish accent, “Hey lady you work late tonight?” I nodded. He said, “You are going to miss your dinner: the beans and rice and the fried chicken.” I laughed and thought that this man really knows what black people like to eat.” An hour or so later, I left the building and went home. As I approached the backdoor and before I placed the key in the knob, I paused. The aroma coming out from the inside was reminiscent of the time I walked through a New Orleans neighborhood looking for boutiques. The smell was red beans. I opened the door and could see the smoke coming from a pot of red beans my mother was cooking on the stove. She was flouring chicken and preparing to fry. I thought of what a coincidence.

A week or so later, I was working late again. The janitor was again picking up and emptying trash. When he got near me, he said, “Hey Lady, You work late tonight? I said, “Yes.” He said, “Oh no. You are going to miss your dinner: greens, the cornbread, the sweet potatoes” I smiled and he went on. That evening, sure enough, those items were being prepared by my mother at home.” I worked late again the following night. So when Mr. Lopez came by this time, he had my full attention. He said, “Ah. You work too hard and too late. Put your resume out there.” Then he went on about his business. The next, a friend (a Black lady with the last name Wolfe) in the printshop downstairs said. “You know Ms. — has some jobs. Why don’t you apply? I was content doing what I was doing. Little did I know that the department I was in was going to be dissolved. I’d seen Ms. ——-’s job some months ago. Another friend had called it to my attention then. I felt I qualified for it. However, I was apprehensive because Ms. ——– had a reputation for firing people. Anyway, I went online and it was still there, all these months later. I applied for it. I sent my resume to one of the administrative assistants I knew in the department. She forwarded it to Ms. —-. Ms. — interviewed me herself. She asked me a series of questions. She walked out of the interview. She gave me the job. After I got the job, my supervisor’s secretary (an American German of Jewish stock as she would say) said, “I asked our friend in the printshop to talk to you about Ms. —-s job. Did she? I said, “Yes.” I wanted you to move up and this was the only way. You wouldn’t have done it coming directly from me. She was right. None of the people in this universal conspiracy had anything to gain in advising and helping me. I believe their directions, especially Mr. Lopez’s, came from another source: God. I bought Mr. Lopez a Spec’s liquor gift card every year after that. I would have someone write in Spanish, “For a good bottle of Tequila.” No matter where I was at work, he would always somehow find me to get his gift card on the exact day I had it.” I stayed at that job for three years and loved every bit of it. Ms. — didn’t fire me. It was so much fun doing the work itself. The people that said she was notorious for firing people didn’t add that she would fire you for not doing your work. When I left for another position, Mr. Lopez saw me in the hall said, “Why did you leave? You left your work.” I believe my changing positions was another God orchestrated move. In either case, I do know that we oftentimes tend to think of conspiracies as a deliberate and secretive action by people and other forces for negative consequences. However, I know that, as was in this case, some conspiracies are for our good. You will always eventually know who is working against you. However, you may never know who may be working behind the scenes with God for you. Pay attention, pay it forward and be grateful.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. –Jeremiah 29:11