Something I struggle with in my faith is whether or not there is a “master plan” or if God intervenes in our lives. I don’t believe God is a puppeteer, but I think He’s there always trying to get our attention.
I’ve moved away from the “master plan” because the God I know through the Bible and just living my life can’t possibly plan for awful things to happen – plus it removes any kind of responsibility on our part if we just blame everything that happens on God – or blame Him for not doing something when things go down.
Today is the perfect example of, what I consider to be, pure intervention.
I have had an insanely busy week. As the Director of Christian Ed, our annual BIG fundraiser is the annual Basement Sale – and it’s a stressful week of transforming our hall into another thrift shop. If we didn’t make so much money for our youth, I’d not do it! So there’s that plus the fact that we FINALLY (after two long years) are closing on our home.
In the mess of all of that, there’s everyday life: laundry, dry cleaners, shopping for elusive copies of the latest Rolling Stone magazine. As the week draws closer to the Basement Sale opening, I’m living in a flurry of to-do lists.
“Dry Cleaners” is on my list and it’s usually an afterthought. However, on the Search for the Rolling Stone, I was reminded that the clothes I dropped off were ready (I usually forget about my clothes for a good week after they’re ready) so I headed over.
Naturally, it’s pouring down rain, but I get out of the car and run in. There’s a young man with a delivery of laundry and the elderly woman working the counter was on the phone.
“I’ve gotten busy here, so I’ll have to call you back,” she says to the person on the other line. She hangs up the phone and after a few beats says to the room, “That was my vet. We thought my cat just had an simple autoimmune illness – I was just told he has feline AIDS.”
It was silent for a moment and the young man was very consoling and sympathetic to her, as he says he’s a cat lover himself. She was clearly blindsided by the news that her beloved cat would die. She did not cry, but she appeared disoriented for a moment.
The young man dropped off his order and offered her a hug. He said he would think of her and her cat and left.
It was my turn.
It took her a moment to take my ticket as she continued talking about her cat and how she couldn’t yet understand this new development. She took my ticket and went to the back room to retrieve my items.
As soon as she disappeared, I pulled out the fully tied pocket square I kept folded in my front purse pocket. It was beautiful – and very purple – with a verse of scripture. Every knot I tied was tied during a time where prayer was all I had left. So I prayed and prayed and prayed!
She took my money and while I was due only $8.00 in change, she grabbed a $10, $5 and started counting $1 bills. “That’s too much change, hon!” I told her. She put the $5 down and continued counting the $1 bills. “That’s still too much,” I said. She was clearly distracted.
She gave me my change and I then handed her my pocket square and explained what it was. I then told her, “maybe I was meant to come here today.” She agreed and appreciated the gift. We briefly exchanged our love for animals and then I wished her well and told her I would be praying for her and her cat.
Yep, the Lord made me do it. He was there with me, guiding me, and cheering me on. I always wish there was something more I can do, but maybe, from her point of view, it was just what she needed in that moment.
If we open ourselves up to His presence – it can be pretty amazing what we can get out of it.
Image Credit: Me! And our incredible Prayers and Squares group at Westmont Presbyterian Church.
Silently Outspoken 