 Have you ever seen High School Musical? This was not like that. Years ago, when we were both in high school, Olivia and I were in a musical. Now I must confess right from the outset that my role was merely a cameo one. I walked across the stage and did not need to sing which was probably in the best interests of everyone, everywhere. The musical itself is not the focus of our story, but what is interesting is that though we had never met, let alone had a conversation (it was a big school and we were two years apart) we featured in a photo for the program sitting right next to each other!
It was only after we were engaged that Olivia’s mom came across the pamphlet while she was going through some old things, we were amazed at the “coincidence”. Here we were sitting right next to each other, completely oblivious to the fact that, years down the line we would meet, fall in love and be married. Olivia and I went to the same high school, attended the same church, both played in the youth band and even attended the same home/cell group yet we never met. This was just because I left the youth band and cell group to go to Year of Your Life just before Olivia joined. It was almost as if we walked parallel paths for years, meeting the same people, having similar experiences and being shaped by God until He saw fit for those paths to cross. I often wonder what would have happened in high school if He told me then that this is the woman I would marry. I am so grateful He did not. I was not in the right place then, and neither was she. If we had met then we probably would not have even looked twice at each other, but God’s timing is perfect. He leads us one step at a time. This is important for me to remember when things feel like they are falling apart. When Adam and Eve were in the garden and chose to sin, they must have felt like the world had ended. They had no way of knowing how God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 would come about. The same must have been true for Joseph and Daniel in their times in the pit or the disciples when Jesus was crucified. Here was their hope dying in front of them. Even the enemy didn’t see what God was doing, thinking he was winning a victory while in actuality God was working His master plan to restore us back in to relationship with Him. In our journey to France, it is amazing to see the little strands, links, conversations and chance meetings over the years come together so suddenly. Only, our going is not a sudden event. In fact it is a fulfilment of years of preparation that we never knew was happening. Yet, God knew. Just like He knew that day the photo was taken for the musical that Olivia and I would be married. He brought us to the right people, and the right people to us. He worked years of relationships, job placements, training and, of course, the desires of our heart into a wonderful picture that shows His hand over us and that He truly does have a plan. How often, I wonder, am I sitting next to Gods plan without realising it? How often, I wonder, do I not see Him working right next to me? The continuous realisation of my life is that God is at work. He has a plan that I do not always see and that He is working to fulfil that plan in each of our lives as we journey with Him. What a joy it is to surrender to Him as the one who can guide our every next step. Read more... |
