God Works In Mysterious Ways
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I learned recently that a dear friend of many years was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a terminal illness that has no cure. The prognosis is not good; they may be gone to meet their maker is a year or two, more or less. I have been so flustered and concerned, worrying about them and what I might be able to do to help, that when mayor Eddie Fulton asked me to introduce myself at a recent Chamber of Commerce sponsored event, that I found myself searching for words, muttering something that came out sounding like "freak," when what I was thinking was this freaky disease is so horrible. Someone thought I said "geek" and I left it at that.
I am NOT a freak or a geek. I regard "geek" as derogatory. I am a web master and I use the Internet to try to help people. In fact, I had been searching the Internet trying to research pulmonary fibrosis for my friend. She was in tears trying to hide them from her dying husband, seeking my help as she knew I was net savvy and very good when it came to doing research, given my background in science. But having a big heart, her tears were contagious, and when I opened my mouth while thinking about the pain and suffering she was feeling, somehow unspoken thoughts mingled with words spoken, and what I muttered was not what I intended to speak. Has that ever happened to anyone else before?.
I know God works in mysterious ways. I don't always know why things happen the way they do. A tornado blows through and destroys people's homes and leaves dead in its wake. Lightening strikes and sets the forest ablaze, winds building it into a storm which rages down a mountain side, destroying everything in its wake. An earthquake occurs generating a tsunami, sweeping away entire towns and villages in Japan. People die every day from accidents, disease, illness, violent crimes ... I should be thanking God for every day I am blessed to enjoy upon this Good Earth. We all should!
You might wake up tomorrow and discover you have cancer, or get bitten by a mosquito, contact West Nile virus, and die. Or you could be killed walking across the street and be hit by a car or truck you didn't even see, perhaps because you were thinking about how you are going to find a job or make enough money to feed your family and kids. We never know what tomorrow will bring or when we will be called.
When you realize this one thing, it makes it very important to try to spend your life doing good work and helping others. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help my dear friends. I suggested they make some good memories together in the remaining time that God graces their lives with each other's presence. They are lucky for every day they have together. I know just how lucky they are as I've never found that special woman, never married, and wonder why God has not so blessed my life? Is it because I am already married to God in my heart or what?
But I'm not bitter. I have loved and I certainly love life, nature and all the beautiful people I find around me. I recently had occasion to send mayor Fulton an email and told him that what was most precious about Quitman, what was its Unique Selling Proposition, was all the wonderful people here who make Quitman their home.
We are indeed fortunate to live amid the piney woods and have a "small town mayor" who seems to devote so much of his time, energy and effort to doing good for others. Seeing how hard Eddie works is inspirational, and makes me wish I could do more. Perhaps just letting others know that we are blessed, that every day we are here in the company of good neighbors, is truly God's gift. We need to be aware of that and give thanks and praise to this little piece of Heaven on Earth that is right here in Quitman.
Whether you praise the Lord as creator of the universe, or see God as Love, try to do something each day to make the world a better place. Remember, we never know when our end time will come. Today may be the last time you have to hug someone and tell them how much you love them. Today may be your last chance to give a little piece of your heart to someone you cherish dearly, or to someone you don't even know, that the gift of love may brighten their day. It might only be such muse as this, a kiss between souls. Isn't it amazing, even a miracle, that we each have such love to give!
Thus should anyone ask you why you live in Quitman, tell them about all the wonderful people here. Share this kiss from someone who passed by your way. It could make all the difference in the world ... even if we none understand how or why God works in mysterious ways.
