It So Happens

Couple of short months now I have picked up birding. Taking pictures of birds is quite challenging and rather time consuming. As you mingle with the birding community you get to know people, make new friends and learn from them. Being a pastor all these years, I have learned to turn whatever it is I am doing into a ministry. The harvest field is always on my mind. One thing I am experiencing now in the birding circle is this thing called ... CHANCE. You'll never know but there are moments when IT SO HAPPENS that something extraordinary in the birding scene happens. Out of nowhere this birdie just appears! These are moments that got my adrenaline going. You want to quickly capture these moments before it ends and in the midst of the excitement, I often blur my shots! Hahahaha. It's just like in fishing ... the one that got away. Sigh! But that's all part of the fun!

We were taught from the pulpit that nothing happens to us by chance. I find it amusing when preachers proclaim our presence in meetings is by divine appointment. Many times in conferences, I heard the host affirming that my presence was not a coincidence but rather God had brought me there by divine appointment. In as much as I would love to have God personally appoint my presence for the conference, I am afraid I have to beg to differ. I think pretty often preachers are too careless or easy on words. It's easy to say it is God's will when one don't have an answer. Let me try to put this in perspective today.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

In the Old Testament, what the Father had need to do, He's done it and then He sent Jesus. What Jesus needed to do then, He too had done it and He had sent the Holy Spirit. Now it's up to us, how we walk with the Holy Spirit and how we live our lives in view of what Jesus had already done for us. AND in life, God doesn't order our every footstep ... what we do or don't, which career path to take, how many kids we want to have, which church to attend, our health, etc. It's all about our choices. Whatever we decide, we bear and live with the consequences. There are of course exception to the rule. God is sovereign and if He so chooses , He can interject and accord a divine intervention and so order our footsteps. Unless that happens, life is a matter of choice just as you would choose your destination for your next holiday. Really, if God do indeed order our every footstep, all of us would have gone astray! So under the sun (i.e. the course of life) time and chance happen to all. In other words, life happens. Whether it's good or bad, favorable or not, it remains a fact that God is still good and is unchangeable, doesn't make mistakes and doesn't need improvement. Only we and our lives need change and improvement, sometimes by purposeful intent and other times, by coincidences. Whatever it may be, we can always draw strength and confidence from God,.

In Luke 10:31 Jesus spoke of a parable. In it He said, "by chance ..." or coincidentally. That's life. Things do happen by chance. There are things within our control and influence and there are things which is beyond our control and influence. So when life goes either way, let's keep in mind the words of the apostle Paul: " ... in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you . (1 Thess 5:18). Read carefully. It say, "IN" not "FOR" everything. Just remember, we can draw strength from God in all circumstances by giving thanks. Sometimes we may need a friend or two to walk alongside, but our strength and our joy, they come ultimately from God. You can go through tough times with Him or without Him. The choice is obvious.

I love those "it so happens" happy moments. They're there. You just have to avail yourself. Many are caught in a rut by sulking and indulging in pity parties. Perhaps it's time to grab your "camera" and take a stroll? You'll never know. Today you may just have a glorious day because it so happens you were there at the right place and the right time. Isn't it true God's angels are watching? Look out for those "it so happens" moments. It's exhilarating!