I was repeating my Part 1 course in Chicago during the winter of 2007. The teacher gave each course participant Gurudev's picture with a message. I got a nice picture which said - "The only thing you must remember is how fortunate you are. When you forget this you become sad". I was very happy to get that message with his beautiful picture. After my surgery in Chicago, I stayed as a paying guest with a couple. The lady used to cook food for me but very often she gave me stale food refrigerated for weeks. I was never used to having overnight food. This made me weak and frustrated and I just decided to move out of her house right that moment. It was after 8 in the night and I to look for a roommate.I searched in the internet and got 2-3 contact numbers from the craigslist. I packed my luggage and dumped into the car. It was snowing like madman, high speed winds making it very difficult to drive. I drove for a while and decided to go and stay in Hotel for the next few days until I found a good roommate. Before reaching the Hotel, I decided to call the numbers. The first two numbers didn't go through and the third number, this guy answered my call and said he has a room available, he is a vegetarian and I could come and take a look. So, with an adventurous drive through the snow, my car finally reached his apartment. He led me to the room inside which was pitch dark and he apologetically switched on the lights. On the wall opposite to where I stood, I saw a familiar picture - It was Guruji's picture which said " The only thing you must remember is how fortunate you are, when you forget this you become sad" - which was exactly the same picture I had got in the course a week ago. It so turned out that my room mate was an art of living devotee from my hometown Bangalore and the most amazing cook as a roomie. I thoroughly enjoyed the food he made for the rest of the time I stayed in Chicago. Gurudev not only provided me with a shelter in that dark,windy, snowy night but also an excellent friend.I never imagined I would find a room so soon. What I got was beyond explanation. I was in tears when I saw the same picture of Guruji that night. Gurudev is my shelter. In Gratitude....
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