Divine Appointment

Some call it LUCK or CHANCE. I call it GOD's PERFECT TIMING.

Yesterday I woke up with pull in my heart to go shopping in the city. I really needed some things from Costco, I wanted to stop at a fabric store, and I was hoping to find a new outfit for Sunday's Cinderella Off-Broadway with our twin granddaughters. I sent a text to my girlfriend with whom I had a lunch date in town, and proposed we amend it to a lunch and shopping afternoon in the city. But alas, she had commitments at 3:00 at the local trade show. Disappointment. I guess I could go another day.

However the pull to go to the city wouldn't leave me all morning as I puttered around the house. I made a list of errands I could do if I went - just in case I decided to go alone after lunch.

And that's exactly what transpired. It may have been impulsive, but it just felt right. I enjoyed a wonderful visit with my girlfriend and after we parted, I decided that, yes, I would head to the city on my own. By mid afternoon I was travelling down the highway, first being inspired by an Insight for Living podcast and then chuckling at the antics of Dave and Morely as I listened to a Stuart McLean CD.

My first stop was to load up with fresh veggies from the greenhouses. Next stop, Costco. I expected the place to be crazy busy on a late Friday afternoon but surprisingly it wasn't. I enjoyed strolling the aisles and picking up pantry staples as well as some yummy treats. It had been months since my last Costco outing - my full cart was testimony to how long it had been! Let's just say I experienced a little "sticker shock" when I went through the check-out.

Scanning down the list of errands, I chose to head to the fabric store next. Enroute, I spied the golden arches of McDonalds and remembered the free hot drink coupon I had in my purse. With easy access from my current route, I detoured in and found a parking spot. It was the busy supper hour and the process of ordering and waiting for my coffee took unusually long. Standing there waiting and people watching, I spied a familiar face in the order line (well, actually the side and back of a familiar head!) "Well, hello stranger," I said. He turned and chuckled and gave me a hug. "Is your hubby with you? My wife in the play area with our granddaughters. Do you have a moment to come and visit awhile?"

He and his wife used to live in our town and pastor our church. He married hubby and I. They are those kind of friends with whom one can pick up where you left off last time and not feel the distance of miles or years. "Forever" kind of friends. We haven't visited with these dear friends in person for many years. The crazy part was that they actually live three hours away from this city.

I don't even know why he had been at the order counter when I saw him. They had already been there awhile and their grandchildren were busily playing after their meal. But God orchestrated an amazingly-timed meeting and gifted me with 45 minutes of wonderful catching-up-on-each-other's-lives conversation. Even now, the following morning, my heart is in awe at how He managed to put the two of us together at that exact moment. How easily I could have been in and out with my coffee without even realizing that they were steps away.

This is a quote from my prayer journal yesterday morning; "Please teach me and open my eyes anew to Your wonders and Your presence... For I feel no draw to come to Your Words daily, to sit and pray and commune. My mind knows I should, but my sinful self goes to do other things first. Lord God, forgive me. Jesus, please light a fire in my soul that makes me thirsty for You."

There's nothing like seeing God's fingerprints in the midst of my comings and goings to remind me that He's real and He's interested in little old me. I'd say that prayer was perfectly answered, wouldn't you?