Several years ago, while I was in Cairo for a few weeks, I had an experience that made me delve into my true, spiritual identity. It was just after the Arab Spring, and I was visiting an Egyptian friend. One evening, she and I took a taxi to a restaurant. When it came time to pay, my wallet was nowhere to be found. We searched the restaurant and the street outside, but it was not there.

I had paid for the taxi, but it seemed that my wallet had not made it back into my pocket securely. There wasn’t any money in it, just credit and bank cards and my driver’s license. My friend paid for dinner and lent me some money. 

Back at my hotel, I told the desk clerk what had happened in case anyone called. How would they know where to call? Upon my arrival in Cairo, knowing that I would be using taxis a lot and that my hotel was on a quiet street that was somewhat difficult to find, I’d had the thought—an angel message from God—to put an Arabic version of my hotel’s business card in my wallet. That way I could easily show a taxi driver where I wanted to go. Anyone who found the wallet would see the card.

At first, I was bombarded by fears about the difficulty of living in an unfamiliar country without my ID and bank cards. I was tempted to launch into a step-by-step plan to replace the contents of the wallet, until I realized that an intense focus on coming up with human solutions would interfere with my turning wholeheartedly to God. So instead, I began praying to see that my true, spiritual identity is always safe and forever mine as a perfect, complete, unique manifestation of God. I rejected the notion that I was defined by credit cards, driver’s license, nationality, or any other material factor. I also denied the belief that it would take much effort to reestablish these in a foreign country. 

I firmly put out of consciousness all worries about someone else using the cards or stealing my identity and prayed to feel the calm presence and power of divine Principle—God—governing everyone. I affirmed that divine Truth is reflected in the integrity of all of God’s children, so God’s law must be expressed in the thoughts and actions of every single person in Cairo and the world. 

After praying with these spiritual facts, I felt God’s presence and a joy that nothing could take away. Trusting in the Lord with all my heart, I went to sleep and prayed in this way each time I woke up during the night.

Before I went into the dining room for breakfast the next morning, I stopped by the front desk and asked if anyone had called. They said no. After breakfast, I again spoke to the receptionist, who said, “Oh, you’re the person who lost your wallet. There is someone out on the terrace who wants to see you.”

Sitting on the wall outside was a tiny, older Egyptian woman who smiled and spoke to me in Arabic. Although I didn’t understand much of the language, I gathered that she was apologizing for not having come the evening before, as she had been too tired. She had all the contents of my wallet and was so sweet and so happy to return them to me. She didn’t want anything, but I gave her the money that my friend had lent me, and she went on her way. I rejoiced and thanked God for His unfailing care of both her and me, each of us the expression of God’s perfect goodness. 

My gratitude for this proof of God’s love and care was almost inexpressible. Everyone who was aware of the experience was amazed. I told my friend it was the work of God and His guiding angels, or messages, and she agreed.

Leslie Revilock
Williamsburg, Virginia, US