According to Plan

 Morning Folks,

 Maybe it’s our encroaching age, but it seems that more and more of our friends are beginning to leave us, some with a chance to say goodbye and some not, all on their way to “graduation” and their heavenly reward.

 This week was no exception.  A dear friend, one whose love and kindness got us through our “seminary/first pastorate/new baby” days passed on.  It hit me hard because we had no idea it was coming so soon, her being just a few years older than me.

We sometimes fall victim to a common sense but theologically weak assumption that, based on all the good she did, she of all people should have enjoyed a ripe old age surrounded by friends and family.

 But in the words of a Catholic nun friend of mine as we sat around language school in Tokyo so many years ago and I was verbally worrying about the earthquakes that seemed to be a weekly event.  She said rather angelically, 

“Let us not forget we’re all in His hands”.

 Oh yeah … I guess I did need reminding. And it’s true; why do I keep forgetting that every hair on my head (becoming fewer and fewer and so maybe easier to count) and every breath I take (which as far as I know may also be approaching ‘countability’)  … all of that and more is going perfectly according to Plan … His plan, that is.

 Recently I was reading the old story of Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego.  Here’s what they said as they faced the furnace,

 “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.” [And here’s the part I especially like] “But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”           Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)

 In the Asian countries we’ve lived, we hear a lot of conversations around the word, “Fate”.  You know, sorta like, “It is what it is.” It’s a wonderful panacea to the masses.  In fact, even here in Australia, we often hear, “She’ll be right”…….. giving no credence to a Living Being who would make an effort to be in our lives.

But for myself and my colleagues, we do believe in a God Who cares, Who knows our names and the number of our days.  That’s a lot more comforting, even as I accept that all I enjoy today has a specific number. I accept it because of what I know comes next: the days beyond counting in a place beyond description.

 God bless …  till next time,

 Marsha