All in His Hands

 Hello Everyone, 

I’dlike to share a story I heard just before we left Australia a couple of weeks ago.  It goes in the category of “Only in Australia”. Our friend works as an appliance repairman serving several little towns surrounding where we live.  

One day an old Ute (pick-up truck) pulled up to his shop and a rather tough looking woman hopped down out of the cab.  She had driven several miles in from her sheep station.   After the obligatory “G’Day Mate” greeting, she sat down and said, “Gorsh, I’ve had a rock or something in my boot all the way down the hill,” whereupon she pulled off her boot and shook out, not a rock, but a Huntsman spider that measured at least five inches across! 

My friend screamed (he’s a man) and the lady shrugged her shoulders as she went about putting her boot back on. Now let me clarify, Huntsman spiders are NOT poisonous, but the Aussies assure us,“Oh you’ll swell up and hurt like XXXX for several days, but it’s NOT poisonous!” 

As my friend and the woman were collecting themselves, including the poor spider who must have been wondering for the last couple of hours how he could manoeuvre around to bite her, the unexpected happened. Out of nowhere an attentive Kookaburra (a rather largish bird of the kingfisher family, and definitely a carnivore) swooped down between the people and collected his lunch!” 

I think we can conclude the Huntsman had had a very bad day! But while you’re trying to take that in, let me give you a few more facts. Did you know that, worldwide, there are only about SEVEN deaths every year due to shark attacks? Contrast that with at least ten people who die by vending machines every year. And don’t forget the 145 annual deaths due to falling coconuts… … or the real killer: 478 fatalities from sticking knives in toasters. 

So how am I supposed to feel about this information?  Does it give you pause that the highest number of deaths come from something that probably lurks close to where you now sit (except maybe for the sharks and coconuts)? These statistics don’t even cover things like car accidents and environmental pollution, so much more‘real’ to all of our situations. I remember one day in language school in Japan, so many years ago. We all got to talking about the high propensity of earthquakes, which was a nearly daily experience there in Tokyo, even though, most were too small to be felt. 

Themore we talked, the more we made ourselves upset.   And then an Irish nun (it was a Catholic language school) stopped us, put up her hands toward heaven and said, “Boot Dona Foahget, we be  ALL ina HIS Hands!” 

That assurance got us thru a LOT of earthquakes in the months and years to follow. Today let’s re-remember this wonderful promise, that the Lord knows our every thought and step; protecting and leading us as we carry on. We are now off the boat and living our dream in Hawaii, with not a Huntsman or Kookaburra in sight. We’ve been blessed with a whole weekend of Christian-based events, from the Hawaii-wide International Prayer Breakfast with all kinds of Government leaders, etc, to the Women’s Missionary Union day of celebration.  TodayTony will be preaching in one of his student’s churches, right after we attend the oldest Baptist church in Oahu. 

Unfortunately,Tony was so kind to give me his cold that he had a few days ago on the boat.  I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna die (unless of course I get too close to the toaster), but would appreciate your prayers that I can make a meaningful impact on the big exciting day ahead! 

All the best and safety all round, 

Marsha