Orchestrated

By Mike Musgrove

1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV): "For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building."

The Great Conductor has a way of turning ordinary circumstances into extra-ordinary events. This morning I got to work at 6am, which is an hour and a half earlier than usual. It was one of the few rainy days this summer has allowed. As I walked to the gate, I saw Mark talking to our staff. Mark’s life is a marked life. In the seven years I have known him he has been a victim of extreme violence that has left him permanently scarred inside and out. It had been a year since I had seen him, and today he looked healthier than ever.

“Mark!” I shouted, much too loud for this time in the morning. Startled, he turned towards me.

“Hey Mike,” he said in a much more appropriate volume. He looked at me through his near blindness. “How’s it goin’?”

“Good. I haven’t seen you in a while. Where are you living these days?”

“I have been in treatment.” He said with a slight smile that told a long story of success and shame. He told me that he had not used drugs in eight months then relapsed.

“They gave me two days to figure out if I want to go back and stay in the program. I am going back today.”

“Can we help you at all?”

“My friend and I need a jacket. Do you have anything?”

As I was explaining that we don’t hand out coats at this location and he would have to go to the Welcome Hub, I remembered that I had loaded a donation of jackets into the van last night. I opened the back of the van and revealed the pile of coats. I selected coats for them, and they both turned and put their arms in the sleeves while I held them up like a tailor. Soon Mark and his friend chose two jackets, smiled and, with fist bumps, said “Thanks Mike.”

“I guess I won’t be seeing you for a while. Take care. I will be praying for you.” I said, smiling, as they walked away.

“Yep. See you.” He smiled back and walked away.

Happenstance? A fluke? Good luck? Stars aligning? I don’t think so. Yesterday, a friend, who I hadn’t seen in a year, remembered my work at SUMS when he had a donation. The donation included a pile of coats that I thought, due to this summer’s heat, would be useless until winter. However, today it rained, and Mark and his friend were cold and wet. I arrived at work earlier than I had in years, which allowed for the meeting to take place. To me, these are the types of miracles that happen in our lives and often we miss the work of the Conductor, who uses flawed musicians to create harmony from a cacophony.

So, if we can see this as a miracle, what is the purpose of meeting Mark and giving him a coat. First, I get to tell my friend who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and broken ribs, that his donation was invaluable. He will know that all the thoughtfulness that went into this donation led to something wonderful. I hope that he feels a little better as a result.

Secondly, I get to ask all of you to pray for a young man who wants to get better. He is caught in the trap of addiction, and it is trying to hold him back. Pray that, God will protect him and give him the strength to find freedom in Christ.

Lastly, I get to thank everyone who supports the work that God is doing at SUMS. You may not get to hear the story that your donation is part of, but you are a part of the work we do. It is because of your thoughtfulness and generosity, that stories like this can be told.

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV): "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."