Mr. Parker

You know those events in your life where you see the handiwork of God and you just have to sit back and shake your head in awe at how He does it?  You think you’re making these great decisions and good choices only to realize in the middle of it or at the end that you didn’t really make that decision at all.  It was already made for you.  You just didn’t know it.  And when you realize what it truly is, you can’t help but thank Jesus for how he formulated it for you.  To describe it as magic is too worldly.  Destiny is too chancy.  It’s just….Jesus.

I attended a Connecting Women’s Conference this last weekend in Birmingham, Alabama.  I was scheduled to return home on Sunday afternoon, my flight leaving shortly before 2pm.  However, due to a personal scheduling conflict, I arrived at the airport around 8am.  When I checked in at the ticket counter I told the agent, “I know I’m a million hours early, but is it possible to at least check my bag so I don’t have to roll it around with me?”

The agent looked through the computer and let me know that if I wanted to, an earlier flight into my Atlanta connection was available.  I took it.  (Atlanta is a much larger airport with many more food options, so that was a win for me!)

An hour and a half later, I boarded the flight and took my middle seat.  An older gentleman sat down next to me, an obviously well-read book gripped in his hand.  Now, I love to read.  And I’m nosy.  So once he got settled, I asked him what he was reading.  “King Leopold’s Ghost” was his reply.  I asked him if it was any good, and told me it was his third time reading it!  Any book worth reading more than once was a book I wanted to read, so I took the information down.  That brief interaction started a 40 minute conversation and ended with a hug at the concourse and a promise to email his son’s art information.

We talked about his grown sons who are artists and chefs and his beautiful wife of 40 years, an educator in the special needs field of middle school.  We spoke about his desire to help end an epidemic of fatherless homes.  We talked about my ministry.  He gave me practical advice about working on relationships.  And we spoke of how God orchestrates random events into life-changing moments.

At the end of our conversation, we both agreed that me getting on that plane was not by chance.  It was a divine appointment.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (NASB)  Isn’t that the truth?!  I can think I’m making the choices, but God directs the steps I take.  He took me directly to a Jesus encounter that will forever impact my life.

Thank you, Mr. Parker, for your words of encouragement.  My world is a better place for knowing you.  And thank you, God, for taking this brief moment in my life and turning into a miracle of just Jesus.

Do any of you have moments in your life that you’d like to share?  Perhaps you’ve had a moment where you can only explain it as “just Jesus”!  Share in the comments below and encourage others!

~Erin