The Simple Things
Sometimes it's the simple things. . . those little miracles of every day life, that can really reaffirm your trust and confidence in God and seem to be neon signs indicating his real presence in the midst of the chaos of life. For instance, today I was travelling home to visit my family for a week of holidays. It's a long weekend here, with Monday being a statutory holiday, and so the ferry line-ups were very busy. To get to my hometown requires travelling by ferry. In fact two ferries.
Despite arriving at 5:45am for a 7:20am sailing, I almost did not make it on the first ferry because it was so busy. I was among the last dozen cars let on the ferry and they left almost a full ferry load behind sitting in the parking lot. Relieved to have made this ferry, I knew the next one would also be busy.
When I arrived at the second ferry at 9:45am for a 10:30am sailing the person directing the cars at the terminal told me that I would not be making the sailing. That would mean waiting in the parking lot (in literally, the middle of nowhere) until the next sailing which would be leaving around 1:00pm. Sitting in a parking lot for over three hours didn't sound like my idea of fun, but there wasn't much I could do about it. As they began to load for the 10:30am ferry again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then they directed my lane down into the lower portion of the lot. Again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then I started praying.
I was tired, and just wanted to get home. I didn't want to waste my whole day "travelling" (actually, sitting in a parking lot at a ferry terminal). If I made it on I would be able to have lunch with my family and get to a Mass that was being celebrated in the early afternoon at the parish. I really wanted to make it on the ferry. But I was told that I wouldn't. So I figured, the only way the ferry people's insistance that I wouldn't be making the ferry could be overturned, is by divine providence. And so I prayed, "Jesus, if it is your will, please get me on this ferry. You know I really just want to get home, don't want to be sitting in the parking lot, and I would love to be able to get to Mass today."
Guess what? I got on. I was the last car on a ferry that holds probably around two hundred cars. They stuck me on somehow at the back of the ferry. It was just one of those simple things, an obvious answer to a sincere prayer, that reassured me once again of God's active presence in my life.
Anyways, I'm home for the week.
Despite arriving at 5:45am for a 7:20am sailing, I almost did not make it on the first ferry because it was so busy. I was among the last dozen cars let on the ferry and they left almost a full ferry load behind sitting in the parking lot. Relieved to have made this ferry, I knew the next one would also be busy.
When I arrived at the second ferry at 9:45am for a 10:30am sailing the person directing the cars at the terminal told me that I would not be making the sailing. That would mean waiting in the parking lot (in literally, the middle of nowhere) until the next sailing which would be leaving around 1:00pm. Sitting in a parking lot for over three hours didn't sound like my idea of fun, but there wasn't much I could do about it. As they began to load for the 10:30am ferry again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then they directed my lane down into the lower portion of the lot. Again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then I started praying.
I was tired, and just wanted to get home. I didn't want to waste my whole day "travelling" (actually, sitting in a parking lot at a ferry terminal). If I made it on I would be able to have lunch with my family and get to a Mass that was being celebrated in the early afternoon at the parish. I really wanted to make it on the ferry. But I was told that I wouldn't. So I figured, the only way the ferry people's insistance that I wouldn't be making the ferry could be overturned, is by divine providence. And so I prayed, "Jesus, if it is your will, please get me on this ferry. You know I really just want to get home, don't want to be sitting in the parking lot, and I would love to be able to get to Mass today."
Guess what? I got on. I was the last car on a ferry that holds probably around two hundred cars. They stuck me on somehow at the back of the ferry. It was just one of those simple things, an obvious answer to a sincere prayer, that reassured me once again of God's active presence in my life.
Anyways, I'm home for the week.
posted by DP | 9:25 PM
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