In the book and movie, Anne of Green Gables, middle-aged brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert want to adopt a boy to assist them on their farm. The twosome are surprised and dismayed when Mrs. Spencer at the orphanage sends them a gangly, red-haired girl whose imagination and temperament land her in all sorts of trouble. Years later, when Anne is all grown up and boarding the train for college, Matthew says to Marilla, "Mrs. Spencer made a lucky mistake, I guess." With tears, Marilla replied, "It wasn't luck; it was Providence. He knew we needed her."
You may wonder, exactly what is Providence? Theologian, J. Vernon McGee, explained biblical Providence as "the hand of God ...in the glove of human events." In other words, God's extraordinary intervention in people's lives.
Sometimes, God providentially weaves people into our lives for His purpose. Maybe it is to meet the love of your life. My parents were born and lived in the same western North Carolina county in their childhood years, but met and fell in love years later in the small town of Clover, South Carolina. If God used a pastor, relative, friend, or perfect stranger to introduce you to a relationship with Jesus Christ, was that only a coincidence? I have been amazed to make contact with someone who's experienced suffering similar to my own. Their life's story enabled them, and sometimes me, to offer counsel, comfort, and hope..or just a shoulder to cry on when all seemed lost.
Sometimes God protects us in ways we can't begin to fathom. Years ago, I know God's Hand stopped a sliding eighteen-wheeler just inches from crashing into and over our car. We were in five o'clock traffic on a Friday afternoon, when suddenly all cars ahead of us came to a complete stop. The truck driver was apparently distracted for a second too long. All lanes were blocked and we had nowhere to go. I still recall the sound of his wheels locking down, the screeching of tires. All we could do was look in horror in our rear-view mirrors, breathe a prayer, and brace for impact. Impact that miraculously didn't happen! My husband and I looked at each other...and KNEW we'd been spared by the grace of an Almighty God who holds our very lives in the palm of His hand.
Last week much of North and South Carolina was shut down by a winter snow and ice storm that lasted for over three days. In the south, most of our cities don't own snowplows. We don't generally need them. When it snows, we stock up on bread and milk, schools close, people stay home. In a day or two, we know all will be right with our world again. This storm was worse than we've had in decades. The bulk of the snow, sleet, and rain occurred on Wednesday, the day most area churches meet. Instead of the main sanctuary, on Wednesdays our church meets for dinner and mid-week service in the Fellowship Hall. Church was cancelled to protect members from danger on icy roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. At 3:15 p.m.....this is what happened!
Yes, it is sad! Although we just recently joined with this body of believers, I'm sure there are wonderful memories that were created there. It's possible the storm caused the collapse; but perhaps the storm only set into motion a cancellation that saved lives of men, women, and children. The collapse might have occurred with or without the weight of snow on the roof...at a time when the building was filled with worshipers. But on Wednesday, no one was in the building; no one was injured; no one was killed. Coincidence? I don't think so... I prefer to call it Providence.
It may take months to clean up the mess and rebuild. But people are more important than buildings. As our pastor so aptly said this morning...the Church is not the building. We are the Church.
.JPG)
