In all the rush of moving back, getting textbooks, finding my way to class, and waking up at what feel like wretchedly early times in the morning I find myself noticing the little things more and more. It's interesting, because God happens to work through the little things too. For me, these are precious gems, all the more treasured for their size. It just shows me how much God cares, that He would even bother with the little things as well as the big things, especially when the big things are so stressful and seemingly impossible to achieve {see scholarships, loans, a job, peace of mind, etc}.
It is in the little things that I see God the most. I pray that He allows me to hear the Still, Small voice and sometimes He grants me that privilege or the ability to hear it for others. "Hear" isn't quite the right word though, more often than not it's an act, not a sound. I'm rambling.
There are many little things that have happened in the past few days that I certainly see God's Hands in. The drive up was much better than the weather man predicted, no one's flights were missed or delayed, my friends traveling abroad arrived safely, all of my textbooks were present and accounted for in the mail, and my passport came early. However, one of the little things that I am most grateful for are my books. They are some of my best friends and stalwart traveling companions. One of the most profound experiences of God's love for me recently did not occur in a church or at a prayer meeting, it occurred in a bookstore.
A couple of weeks ago, I had just finished reading "The Hunger Games" the previous day in about 5 hours and I wanted to get the next two installments to read. Well, that morning I was shouted awake by a woman who's at-home work station was on the fritz and who had to get to work and the couldn't find her car keys so she had to take mine and if she was late the creek would rise and God would not be willing. There is a saying in the South: "If momma aint happy, nobody happy." It was in this moment I understood even more fully the accuracy of this. So needless to say, it was not the best start to the day and it only seemed to go downhill from there. Eventually, I was able to get to the used book store where, as a poor college student, I pick up my favorite volumes. I had been there the previous day and had seen "The Hunger Games" trilogy on the shelves. It was one thing that was going to turn out today, I knew that at least I could count on the fact that those books would be there. However, as life tends to do, they weren't. They were gone.
This may not sound like a very big deal, but when you're day has gone sour and you had your hopes set on the simplest of pleasures, it is a great disappointment. The events and feelings of the day weighed heavily on my shoulders and tears pricked the back of my eyes. I sat down in one of the small, over-stuffed arm chairs in the shop and silently gave up. I told God, "I trust You. I know that everything is going to be okay. I will just order the books from the cashier and it will all be alright."
I immediately felt a quiet calm come over my beleaguered mind. I was able to collect myself and get in line for the front register. When I got to the front, I asked if I could pre-order the books and the clerk said, "Oh! We have some copies in the back, just a moment, I'll go and get him." This time, I couldn't stop the tears from leaking out my eyes as a profound sense of gratitude and joy stole over me. The cashier looked at me with concern and hurried to get the books. Again, this may seem silly, but at a second hand bookstore, it is rare for them to have more than one copy of anything, much less something as popular as "The Hunger Games." Needless to say, I got my books (at a great deal, I am very satisfied to say). I had a bloom of affection in my heart for my Father in Heaven, who was watching out for me and it was one of the best days I had ever had, just because of that. Oh I love Him, very much, but I think affection is something different; a true rush of feeling that makes one want to just run up and hug a person!
Books may seem like such an ordinary thing, something that someone would have to be rather silly to get worked up about, but God knows me. He knows that books are one of the things that I get worked up about, that mean very much to me. God cares enough that He was willing to make sure that I got those books and knew that, If I trusted Him, it would all turn out alright. In this small way, He showed me what I would be needing over the next weeks and months. With school, scholarships, loans, travel, work, family, relationships, and expense there was much that I needed to trust God on, that I still need to trust Him on. I'm still learning what it means to simply let go and trust that God will take care of everyone of my needs, but in showing me that He cares enough to handle such a little thing like books, He shows me that He will definitely take care of the big things.
Such a mysterious way to teach that lesson, don't you think?
God Bless Y'all
No comments:
Post a Comment