Dr. French O’Shields A few weeks ago I had a “fantasy island” experience. No, I did not see a rerun of the once-popular TV program. This was a real live color and learning experience.

Driving back from Florida, my wife, Alma, and I decided to spend several hours in Beaufort, to fulfill a heart’s desire of mine. My mother’s family, the Sams, were early residents and prominent in the history of Beaufort and its barrier islands. Three of the antebellum homes, still a part of Beaufort’s historical district, were built by the Sams family. For years I have longed to see and take pictures of the houses.

Our first stop in the historical district was at Bay Street Visitors Center. Upon learning that we were descendants of the Sams family, they gave us the information we needed to locate the home of my greatgreat grandfather, Miles Brewton Sams, built in 1800 and presently owned and occupied by an attorney and his wife; the residence of my great-great-great-grandfather, Lewis Reeve Sams, built in 1850; and the residence of his brother, Dr. Breners Barnwell Sams.

From the Center we began our walk past the shops and offices down to the East end of Bay Street to the Lewis Reeve Sams House. As we passed the window of a real estate office, Alma grabbed my arms and pointed to a picture in the window. “Look at that,” she excitedly exclaimed. “It’s the Lewis Sams House. It is for sale.”

We had to go in. A very kind lady, upon learning of our family connection, gave us a four-page color brochure of the house with exterior and interior pictures. She explained it is now owned by a family who uses it only occasionally but had beautifully restored it and are asking $2,750,000 unfurnished. When I regained my breath, I told her I would love to regain family ownership of this house but I could not quite meet the price.

She did invite us to come back and I promised her that I would and that if I ever win the Powerball lottery I was coming back to buy the house.

“Do you buy lottery tickets?” she asked.

“No. I never have. Do you think that may hurt my chances of winning?” I replied.

“Yes, definitely so. You must buy tickets!” she said with a big smile.

We walked on down to the house. Since no one was there, and since it is on the market, we looked in the windows. It is an exquisite mansion and filled with lovely antique furnishings. It was easy to fantasize about owning this house.

Now for my confession. When I heard on the radio the next Saturday that people were lining up to buy Powerball tickets for a $365 million drawing that night, my dreams began to lose all reason. The lady’s words to me, “You have got to buy tickets” kept flashing in my mind. Could that possibly be a divine sign?

Yep. I did.

For my very first time ever, I bought Powerball tickets. Five of them. Out of my 30 numbers, not one single one matched any of the six numbers on the winning ticket. Some luck!

Do you think the Lord is telling me something?

Of course He is. And this isn’t the first time. The Bible is full of such warnings...that I am to trust in and look to Him and Him alone to supply all my needs and not depend on secular games of chance.

I plan to go back to Beaufort. I will not, however, be staying in the Lewis Reeve Sams house. Evidently God knows I do not need it and He often has a way of distinguishing between our needs and our wishes. He does so not to deprive us but because He loves us and desires what is best for us.

Even so, it sure is exciting to have a fantasy island experience occasionally to break the demands of reality.

(Dr. French O’Shields is a Gaffney native and a retired Presbyterian minister.)