Spiritual Sundays: Divine Order

Last night after babysitting, I headed over to Bohemian Caverns to see some friends perform. To my surprise, afer searching forever for a parking space, I found out that they were at a different club altogether. I was livid at the night, that, at midnight, was supposed to be just beginning for me. Unable to reach my friend via phone, I drove home. Then, also, to my surprise, the shrine house down the street threw a Valentines Day bash that parked up my whole neighborhood. Unable to squeeze into the only space on my side of the street, I felt my nails digging into my steering wheel. It just seemed as though the universe was working against me. I hadn't asked for a Valentine. I hadn't asked for asked for a date. I just wanted to spend it with friends, hoping Maggie Moos cheesecake-flavored ice cream would somehow be involved! I love Maggie Moos...

Anyhow I was blown to the highest level of Atari. I parked up the street, took my behind in the house, and got in the bed. I had church in the morning, so I figured if anything good could come from my flop of a night [aside from the awesome kids I babysat], it would be getting a full night's sleep before the 10am service.

That morning, I wiped the sleep from my eyes, dressed for church, and drove the three blocks to church in fear that I would be late. I wasn't surprised that the church lot was full. I pulled ou and turned the corner twice before I saw a car that had found a spot for two. I pulled in front of her, and she kindly directed me as I backed into the space. We were clearly going to the same place. I greeted and thanked her as I got out of the car. We chatted for a second before the nice church lady recognized another church lady. She had been looking for this woman and was happy to see her. She said "Oh! Everything is in Divine Order this morning, because I just called you!" I don't remember much more of the conversation, as I excused myself and ran up the hill separating my car and the church. Afraid I would forget what this woman said, I repeated it over and over until I reached the doors of my church. "Everything is in divine order...everything is in divine order...everything is in divine order..." She had not said it to be profound. In fact, I imagine it was something she said often. Yet, it resonated with me this morning.

While I know that the word "divine" suggests otherwise, I do not believe that you need to be religious to believe in a divine order. It's just another way of saying "things happen for a reason," the way I see it. I recognize it as a recurring life lesson because it often takes different forms given the circumstance. The "reason" is often hidden, not to be discovered until it almost seems irrelevant. In tragedy, there doesn't seem to be a reason at all. Still, there is something to be gained from everything that happens in your life, even if it is [just] knowledge. As I choose to adopt the belief of a divine order, it seems rather silly to sweat the small things. And furthermore, I shouldn't be mad if I'm not specific and I get what I want.

As I wrote this, it seems preposterous that I had grown so mad when I had asked and expected nothing special to come of Valentines Day, and gotten it. In asking that it be like any other day, I forgot to acknowledge how special "any other day" is. I am young [and healthy], and I imagine one of my biggest flaws is calling any day ordinary if it is mine to have. Who knows why the events of our life go awry when they do. Without those events, the fabulous ones would seem less perfect. That, I believe, is divine order.

So, my day had an unexpected ending. Another day began, and I had something to write about. And that, I am thankful for.

That's it for Spiritual Sundays.

Peace.