Computers were not my thing, but my supervisor was determined to change that. “It’ll make your job easier,” she said. “You’ll see.”
My heart raced. Using a computer might not sound difficult to most folks, but to me it was downright scary. In my 10 years working at the box office for the Miami City Ballet, I’d only ever used a typewriter. I was pretty quick on it too.
The computer was intimidating. All those extra keys! The mouse! That big screen! I was in my seventies. It was too late for me to learn something new. “I’ll do my best,” I said nervously. God, I hope I don’t disappoint her!
By the end of the first week all my fears were proved right. I just couldn’t get the hang of things. I’d type in someone’s ticket information, click on a box to save it, and poof!—it was gone. Sometimes I worked myself into such a tizzy, my hands shook while I tapped the keys.
For the first time, instead of looking forward to coming into work, I was anxious. Frustrated. Annoyed. I’ll never figure this out, I thought as I switched off the machine at the end of yet another bad day.
That night before bed, I reached for a book on my nightstand. Next to it was a little pamphlet on angels that I’d bought a few months earlier. I thought I’d misplaced it, but there it was, like some sort of sign.
I flipped through the pages and came across a chapter that listed the names of angels and the specific areas they helped with. “Call on Ariel if you need courage or confidence,” it read. I closed my eyes.
Lord, I prayed, please send your angel Ariel to help me. She’s my only hope. Thank you. Amen.
The next morning at work I sat down at my desk, my eyes fixed on the computer screen. “Okay, Ariel, do your stuff,” I said. I reached for a stack of reservations. I can do this, I thought, feigning confidence.
All at once, a gentle peace washed over me. My hands steadily glided over the keyboard. I could hardly believe it! I almost felt like I was at my old typewriter.
I finished up, then saved the information and printed it. Piece of cake! It was like I’d been using the computer for years.
That afternoon my supervisor stopped by my desk to check my work. “Wow, Kaaren!” she said. “I’m impressed.” I thanked her and she dashed off.
She came back holding something behind her back. “This is for you,” she said, “for all your hard work.”
She swung her hand around and handed me a stuffed bear dressed like a ballerina, holding a pink satin heart between its hands. How sweet, I thought. That’s when I spotted the tag sewn into the bear’s side.
There, in bold letters, was the bear’s name: Ariel. There was no doubt which angel had come to my rescue.
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