Garage Sale

I've always thought that God has a great sense of humor.  After all--he made me, didn't he.  I'm pretty sure that I at times, amuse him.  I like the fact that I amuse him, and I also like the fact that I am amazed by his timing and his orchestration of our lives.  My life anyway.  Always my life.  For I gave it to him when I was 6 years old.  Do what you want with me, I said.  And he did and he does--every day.

On one such day, in particular, I had a garage sale.  Hold on, bare with me here.  This really is a relevant story.  I promise.  You see, I needed to get rid of some junk.  My home didn't have a basement and we were a family of 5 living in 2000 square feet.  So every few years I needed to purge.  We collected way too much in the way of treasures and goodies.  I can admit it now-I am a collector.  I had extra kitchen appliances, china and dishes left over from an old antique business, various toys and sports equipment, and the usual garage junk.  I probably had at least 5 years worth of extra stuff to get rid of.

What was different about that day was who came to my garage sale.  At some point during the morning, I noticed a little family looking through my stuff.  Small appliances seemed to be their thing.  And I was curious--why did they need so many?  Not one to be shy about asking questions (I'm the curious type) I asked them--why all the appliances?  They explained that they were looking for their church kitchen.  After talking for a bit I learned that they were the new pastors of a small Covenant church just a couple of miles from my home and they needed some supplies.  Being that it was a small church with limited funds, they were hitting up the local yard sales.  After they were finished collecting up all their new finds, I bagged them up--we are Christians I said, and you aren't paying for a thing--we are donating this to your church. 

Funny how God works.  They stayed for a long time, chatting, laughing, their kids playing with our dogs--it seems that we were in the process of making new friends.  Funny how God works.  They asked if they could come back that evening, just for a visit over some coffee.  Of course, I said, we'd love to have you!  And that night marked the beginning of a Saturday night prayer time for this pastor and his wife and us.  We became friends and although we did not attend their church (not right then anyway) we prayed for them and their little church every Saturday night for the next year and a half.  Towards the end of that time, my husband and I felt that we were to leave our present church and start going to the little Covenant church that they were pastoring.  We stayed with them until we moved to the midwest.  Funny how God works.

Fast forward almost 15 years--all of our children are now grown and married, our friends moved up north to pastor another church, and we moved to the mid-west.  And only because of Facebook have we been able to keep up with each other's lives, pray for one another, and share pictures, etc.  I disagree with those who bash technology--I love it.

I look back now over the last 20 plus years and I can see the threads of God's timing throughout my life.  People, places, circumstances--all planned.  I had a garage sale, I met lifelong friends.  I met lifelong friends, I started going to a Covenant church.  I started going to a Covenant church, where I have met many more lifelong friends.  Funny how God works.  Even at garage sales.

I've decided that rather than collect things, I want to collect people.  Wherever God sends me, however, he uses me, I'll be ready. Whether I'm having a garage sale or going to one--I'll be ready.  Because I never know whom I'll meet.  I never know how God will use me.  I never know who will be my next lifelong friend.

I see God in the little everyday things.  Even garage sales.  I see him working, and moving, and ministering to me and others everywhere I go.  So I'll be ready, no matter where I am, I'll be ready.  To be used by him, and for him.