“What are you going to do if you don’t make your goal?” I would get this question asked to me often when I first talked about funds for the World Race. I would say things like “I am leaving it to God” or “I am praying I do.” In reality I had a backup plan. I had money in my savings account and had a place lined up to stay and look for work. I told myself I wouldn’t risk leaving in January if I didn’t have all the money lined up.
I gave up all my safety nets and had a one on one with God. I told Him, “I’m all in.” I cut all my nets and trusted one step at a time. God provided beyond belief. I came to terms that God isn’t waiting for me to leave the country to use me.
I missed church last night to visit my mom. She had a meeting at her church and I started feeling guilty. I watched a movie with my sister and talked to my brother for a while. As I was leaving, I received a phone call. Someone was looking for the owner of the company that I work for. They were calling to inform him that his brother passed away. He had been very sick this past week. I asked that they call him and tell him themselves. I was puzzled by the grief that I felt although I didn’t know them that well. I thought about death, mine and my family/friends. I felt the fear of ever having to speak the words of loss to someone. I wanted to go home and think, ponder, and grieve in sadness.
As I drove down a dark country road, I saw a car in the middle of the road broke down. I was going to drive around it. I just wanted to be sad. I saw someone standing by the car with a phone in hand. I rolled my window down and asked if he needed help. I couldn’t see his face as he looked through my window. “ERIC?” he asked. And the question was followed with a huge smile. He was a friend I hadn’t seen in almost 10 years. The last time I saw him, he was in the hospital after a bad car wreck. We went to grade school together and I’ve worked with his mother and brother. I got out of the car and we came up with a plan. I went to my father’s house to pick up my father’s truck and car dolly and as I returned to the broken down car, I got a text message from a good friend and she asked “Lord speaking to you today about anything?” We loaded up the car and took it to a shop. My friend and I caught up as much as we could in the 15 minute car ride. I told him about my plans for next year on the race. He offered me some money for the trouble and it looked like a lot. I patted his chest, and I told him to pay me back but subscribing to my blog.
What did God say to me? “Nothing is a coincidence” and simultaneously “We are exactly where He wants us.” That grief is his job to handle. My job is to take action on his behalf on the ground. I could had taken different routes, I could have left earlier or later. I could have drove around his car in fear of maybe not knowing who he was. To be honest, I like the way it went. We both agreed it was more than just “coincidence”. Maybe this blog could have planted a seed or maybe just watered it, either way I think I made God smile a little.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. Thank you for your donations 🙂
