Mysteries

"The Lord works in mysterious ways"


I've heard that saying over and over again throughout my life and I always thought I knew exactly what it meant. I mean, really I've always thought that I know everything. It seems this year though, I've been taken a whirlwind of a ride. When I was younger, I used to say that 25 was a pivotal age and by then your life should be set. I've come to learn, that it's actually the other way around. I think I'mma need another 5 years. Things are going so fast yet slow, hidden yet revealed, smooth yet bumpy and whole bunch of other contradictions I'm too tired to think of, it is almost 1am for Pete's sake.



One thing that I'm coming into maturation about is spirituality. Coming from a Catholic grandmother but a not religious at all mother ( spiritual, meaning she told us about God and let us go to church with others, but not religious because she didin't go to church at all...An occasional holiday or family day but nothing major) I've always known about and believed in God and his power. As an adult, or growing adult, things are becoming a lot more clear. But not clear.


For instance, on the day of the sporadic tornado I went in to work. My client told me I could leave early to avoid the storm and I thought "Thank you Jesus for getting me out of here early!". I was planning to go pick up the boys from daycare, Steph from work and cuddle up on the couch and the crappy cable that Charter offers. I got down to my car, and it wouldn't start. My car is a little flukey so sometimes it does that but it usually starts up. After several attempts, it didn't start so this creepy looking old man offered to help. I was hesistant but desperate, so I accepted his offer. As soon as he diagnosed the problem and said he could fix it on the spot, what happened? It started to rain cats, dogs and mice. I hated to have to do this, but I went back into my client's house and just waited for the storm to pass.


It wasn't horrible, I just ate and watched TV for a minute and eventually the clouds spread and the rains were over. The creepy old man and a cohort fixed the car and I was on my way. On my way home, I was devastated by the devastation along my way home. There were tree limbs everywhere, roofs ripped off houses, tree limbs on roofs, Red Cross trucks on every other block and just overall chaos along the same streets that I was planning on traveling just minutes before. I knew then that it was no accident my car didn't start.


What made me realize the power of God happened Friday. I have an aunt who suffers a chronic illness and she had some sort of flare up/attack on Friday afternoon while I was with her. I had never witnessed this myself even though she has been living with it for 20 years or better. She is also a practicing Muslim, changed her name and everything. So it totally took me aback when during this attack she called out to the Lord. I mean, once in the hospital bed "safely" she called out to Allah as well but during the heat of the night it Jesus who she called for, Jesus who I prayed to and let me tell it, that's who got her to help.


This year has been full of stories like this for me and by year I don't mean since 1/1/11. I'm saying since 11/2009 at 24 and 1/2 years of age. It maybe maturation, but I have to believe that it's something greater that allows me to see the world differently now. Everything happens for a reason and the Lord does work in mysterious ways. He could be answering your prayers by not answering them. It's up to us to open our eyes and see the diamonds for the value not the shine.







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