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Friday, January 30th, 2004
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10:06a - A Recount of Yesterday's Embarassing (And Redemptive) Events
Hello, world.
I have an embarassing story to tell you today. Normally I would never tell anyone (there are some moments of personal stupidity that are just better to keep to yourself), but because it is the foundation of a better story, I will tell you. :)
Last night after staying a little bit too long at work, I went out to my car in the far back section of the parking lot, only to find--to my dismay and embarassment--that I had left my lights on when I had arrived at work, and my car was utterly unresponsive to my attempts to start the engine. So I had to walk all the way back to the building, mentally scolding myself the entire way for being so thoughtless. (This is my no means the first time I have forgotten to turn that little knob when I park my car--that's why I wasn't going very easy on myself.) I went inside and told the security guard, "James, I left my lights on. My battery is dead." And wonderful James gave me and understanding smile and said he would call the campus security and have someone come over to jump the engine. I waited inside and the security guy came within five minutes. I was pleased to see he was the same guard that had helped me before once. This guy was black, maybe in his early 20's, and very respectful, efficient and kind--he didn't make me feel embarassed at having killed my battery. Since he pulled up at the wrong side of the building, I went out and rode with him around to where my car was parked.
As soon as he got in his vehicle and started the engine, the radio came on--and to my surprise, it was playing some catchy gospel music. He sang a few lines to it, and I piped up and asked him who the singer was. He told me right away, but I can't remember now. I then asked him if he was a Christian. He gave a cheerful affirmative.
Feeling brave, I continued the short conversation (we were halfway to my car by then) by asking him what church he goes to. He first said he was raised Roman Catholic, then said he was sort-of looking for a church to go to, then said, "Well, actually I go to ...St. Francis of Assisi. Yeah that's really my church." Since he sounded like he hadn't been there in so long that he had forgotten its name, I asked him outright: "Well, are you looking for a church?" And he immediately said yes! "Yeah, yes I am." So I said "Hey, why don't you come to Greater Grace? It's on Moravia Park Drive." And he was like, "Moravia? Hey, I live on Moravia Road! What time is your service on Sunday?" So I told him, and he said, "Ok, I'll be there Sunday morning!" And the best thing is, I think he will be there. From the little that I know of him, I don't see him as the kind of person who would make a statement like that and back down. He just seemed to be a man of his word, you know? I asked him his name, he told me it was Johnathan.
At that point we had arrived at my car and I had to get the hood open so he could connect the cables to the battery. I was still shocked by the unexpectedness of the conversation, it was almost like I didn't have to do anything but be there to tell him where and when. The car was started in no time and before he left he waved to me and said "I'll see you in church!" I was so edified.
Now here's the last bit. As I was driving out of the parking lot, I turned on the radio and it was playing the same gospel music that Johnathan had been listening to! I thought, Well, that's interesting! 95.1 doesn't usually play much Kirk Franklin! Normally they're all contemporary Christian--Watermark, Chris Rice, etc. Halfway home I started to really wonder about this as they continued to play song after song that was so out-of-character for their station... I looked at the dial and realized that the radio was set at 600AM! It had been scrambled when the battery died and lost all the station presets. I wasn't even aware that there was another Christian station in the area, especially not on AM radio! And I'm sure it was the same one that had inspired me to ask Johnathan about his faith just a little while ago. How amazing.
So my conclusion is that God wanted to make something very clear to me: One, He is very real and very personally involved in the details of my life. That chance radio station was like the Holy Spirit underlining this thought to me: I know what I'm doing, even when you don't. Trust Me. And two--I was so hard on myself for being forgetful and causing trouble and embarassment for myself. But God had allowed it because He had a purpose in it! I thought of all this as I drove home. ...For My strength is made perfect in weakness... It was through my failure that God was glorified. What a comfort to me! My weaknesses, my failures--redeemed, for His glory and praise. :)
current mood:  pensive
current music: my fingers on the keys (comment on this)
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