There is no doubt that God takes care of His devotees, as this story shows. It happened once in India that a soldier was placed on sentry duty at night, and while he was standing guard a procession of devotees approached, singing the praises of God. As they passed the sentry box, the soldier began to sing along with the kirtan, and then forgetting his duty, he joined the procession and spent all night lost in the glory of the divine.

When morning came, he returned to his post, but his absence had been noted, and he was summoned before his commanding officer. The charge against him was a serious one, but when he explained what had happened, he was let off with a stern warning.

The next night, the soldier was again on guard duty, and the kirtan procession returned. The soldier tried to stand his ground and remember his duty, but the joy of the singing overcame him, and he again went with the devotees, spending all night long chanting the praises of God.

When morning came, the soldier returned to the garrison, and thought he should go and report himself immediately for his absence, expecting to be punished. But when he spoke to his commanding officer, the officer replied, “Absent? What are you talking about? When I heard the kirtan passing again, I came to see if you had left, but there you were, standing at attention by your box! I saw you with my own eyes!”