January 11, 2006

God Time

I was waiting for a crucial phone call, but I was waiting in a raucous birthday party where revelry effectively masked all cell phone rings. So I put the phone in my pocket and set it to "vibrate." As if that would help!

Halfway through the evening the crotchety neighbor from two-doors-down rang the doorbell and demanded that the fool who had parked on the grass in front of his house "move your car or I'll tow you immediately!"

He stormed off, dialing AAA Towing, and scowling with glee.

The parked car was mine, so I padded up the street to rescue my vehicle.

He met me in the driveway, scowling silently.

"Sorry my wheels are on your grass, man. I thought I had stayed on the concrete. Oh look, I guess I did miss the grass after all. No problem, I'll move it out a bit. Is it OK if I just park out here on the roadway?"

"NO!"

As I opened the car door he was scrunching down behind my car with his camera spouting strobe lights at my license plate. I was trying to decide whether to be angry or to laugh.

"Be sure to get the John Elway license plate holder," I called. "That's the best part of my car."

He was silent as I turned on the ignition and drove slowly away from his ego.

That's when my phone vibrated. At the beginning of a quiet slow drive where I could feel and hear it clearly. Where I could hold a private conversation away from the noise of the party. Where I was alone and able to focus totally on the caller. Where I was away from all distractions, including the neighbor.

The neighbor had no right to control my choice of parking spots. His gutter belongs to us all. But, God took advantage of the nthe man's anger to draw me away from the chaos of life - to where He and I could talk best with my telephone friend.

GOD TIME is GOOD TIME. Listen for it.

"I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation"
2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission development
Florida Hospital