“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.”
Romans 8:28
This is my last e news letter before my last sermon at First Presbyterian Church in Sylva.
I want to thank you for letting me share so many memories of my life and ministry with you. You have been patient with my story telling. So, here is my last story and reflection:
A couple of weeks ago I was traveling to my dad’s to take him to his VA doctor’s appointment in Anderson, S.C. On the way, right as I got on 26, there was a huge sign saying, “CRASH, BOTH LANES CLOSED.” The same thing had happened to me a week before, as I was going to Winston-Salem to take care of my mom, so I was feeling some bad karma. Later when I got to my dad’s house, the VA had called to reschedule his appointment, so more bad karma. But Dad’s wife, Betty Sue, yelled, “NO WAY! Get him in today!” And his appointment was put back a few hours with another doctor, and even though we had to wait, we were at least scheduled for the same day.
Nothing was working the way it was supposed to. The schedule was all off, even after being planned six months in advance. The prayers for traveling mercies did not work, as I sat stalled on the road for an hour. I was late, even after I had rushed to got to dad’s early, and I hadn’t had my morning coffee which makes it impossible for me to be nice! And yet, it turned out to be a wonderful day. Because dad and I had some extra time in Anderson, we went to a little Italian Restaurant for lunch and talked for a while, something we had not done in a long time. Dad liked the doctor he had that day better than the one who worked with him before, and dad’s wife, Betty Sue, got the opportunity to spend a whole day by herself which was something she very much needed.
So sometimes when things don’t work out the way we planned, they might work out better than we planned. And sometimes when we feel everything in our life is a mess, our God can create beautiful things out of our messes. Because “For those who love God all things work together for good!” Thanks be to God for this time shared with you.
Terry Hanna