Still no news on my stolen car. Frustrating, yes, but that emotion has been offset by a stunning reality: one of my best friends gave me a car.
She called me randomly on Friday morning – the day I went outside and found nothing – just to see how I was doing. I said, “Well, I’ve had better days.” Our conversation continued and after she expressed her rage and indignation she said, “OK…we have a car that I was about to donate to the church. We have two others and don’t need this one. It’s just been sitting in the garage for the last four months. I was planning to give it to a needy family. You can have it.”
Who knew I’d be the needy family?!?
Tomorrow I’ll go to the DMV and get the title switched, the tabs renewed, and the insurance instated on my policy. I’ll also take it to a repair shop to have it looked over – just to see what needs to be done.
Now more amazing to me than this, even, is that the car that was stolen was also given to me. What are the chances that I’ve had two cars given to me within the past 6 months?
I’ve been thinking: as much as I desire to be in control, even though I know I’m not, it might be that I don’t really want to trust that God is the one who is in control. I’m not always certain that I can depend on that God; that the things that God will “control” in my life just might not go the way I want. But here’s the thing: when my life is the most out of control is when God chooses to show up, surprisingly, and remind me that I’m seen, heard, and cared for – in stunning ways.
The gift of the now-stolen car from my parents. The gift of this car from a dear friend. The quick care of so many upon hearing the news of my loss. All of these are God made manifest. God does indeed show up. Stunning.
It’s also stunning how rarely I recognize this God in my midst. I don’t want any more stolen cars, but I do want eyes that see, ears that hear, and a heart that anticipates God-made-manifest, incarnated really, all around me, all the time.
