We are in Seattle this week; a combined "business/pleasure" trip. We are visiting with my brother-in-law who lives here. We are also visiting some churches and raising support. It has been an interesting trip where we have experienced a bit of the Lord's good humour.
For instance, what are the chances that the first few days here the weather was warmer and sunnier than South Carolina? Or what are the chances that one of our supporters from SC is a former MTW missionary to Kenya who planted a church from which some of the pastors we will be working along side of were members of his church? Or better yet, what are the chances that one of the churches we "just so happened" to be visiting this week was this missionary's home church and that he was their first missionary that this congregation sent out? Or what are the chances that this same missionary has a nephew at this church who is a former medical missionary?
What are the chances that we would run into a friend from our residency days out here in Seattle? And that another friend of ours (from the same church as the missionary mentioned above) encouraged us to "look up" this friend in Seattle? Better yet, what are the chances that this friend would walk out onto the terrace where my brother in law lives while I am grilling some burgers? Or that this friend lives in the same building? Or that she lives exactly one floor below our guest room? And that she is considering going into missions?
What are the chances that during a visit to another church out here that we would run into another family from Marti's hometown? Or that the man we "ran into" was a physician who knew my in-laws? Or that one of his partners delivered my brother in-law? Or that this man was visiting his daughter who just had a baby? Or that this daughter was visiting this church for the first time?
What are the chances? Do things happen by chance, coincidence, luck? I am reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Right after the man is beaten and left for dead, the religious leaders (and finally the Samaritan) came across the man "by chance".
What is God getting at when things seem to happen "by chance"? What is our reaction? Do we search out the message God is sending? Do we wonder at His good humour, His providence, His divine and intimate concern for the details or our lives?
The next time something happens and you exclaim "wow, that is a weird coincidence", or "wow, I'm lucky to have found this" pause and think about the Creator and Director of life. He is involved in your life. What are the chances?
God is truly at work in your ministry! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Andrew | May 05, 2004 at 11:33 AM
And what are the chances a friend horribly behind in their email would finally read a letter from you and realize that you are in the same city right now and calls to get together? What are the chances that the first time you met was in Washington when neither of you lived here?
Posted by: Bill Montgomery | May 06, 2004 at 12:31 AM
Good things to keep in mind. Looking at it the other way, especially, it's something to keep in mind when the circumstances we experience aren't so fun, ya know?
Like Jeremy Camp's song...
"in brokeness I could see ... this was your will for me..."
Posted by: Ben | May 06, 2004 at 05:03 PM
Well said. God is Sovereign. We need to learn to look at the events of our lives (good and bad) to see the "patterns" that point us to God. He is a very real, living, and active God.
Posted by: Tim | May 06, 2004 at 09:08 PM