patterns

I once read a book which tried to explain why, when you've waited long for a bus to come, three of them come at once.

It obviously made a big impression on me since I can't remember what the reason was. Or is. Or whether it made much sense.

What explains the patterns that there are in life? That's what I'm left asking at the end of today.

What explains the fact that when I get back home and turn on the light, a bulb then goes and blows the fuse, and I go to the kitchen, turn on the mixer and the flex goes up in flames?

What explains a day like that? Co-incidence? Or something more?

And is it just co-incidence that the person who was due to be speaking at our lunchtime service today failed to make an appearance? Which left me with a couple of minutes' notice before being required to do it myself.

Is it just that there are days like that? Not that I minded being called upon like that. The service all went well and the Lord was very present and he gave me in an instant just exactly what he wanted me to say.

I actually quite like the adventure involved! A sort of 'brinksmanship' in a way, I suppose. A sort of 'high-risk sport' in the world of ecclesiastical activity. It's called faith, I guess. Trusting God for everything and finding that he's faithful all the time.

The way we're meant to live.

But what about the fuse being blown, the mixer's flex going up in flames? Is that just some co-incidence?

And here's another thing about today. I was conducting another funeral this afternoon. (That's part of the reason why I was glad to have someone else lined up to speak at the lunchtime service). And among the many people at the funeral was one of the local doctors from the surgery here.

It's back to the business of buses again! How come they come in pairs like that?

Yesterday I'd had the contact with the family of the local Practice Manager. Today it was one of the doctors.

I mean, that's been maybe fifteen years the surgery's been there. And not a single time in fifteen years can I recall there being a service I've conducted where a person from the practice has been there.

Then two in two days!

I can't believe it's coincidence! As the girl in the film 'Sleepless in Seattle' says - 'it must be a sign!'

Well, it looks and feels like that to me, I have to say. A sign of what God's doing in these days. A sign of the way he uses the links that we've had with the folk across there.

As if he says - 'yesterday was no coincidence!'

The service today along at the crem was pretty well attended. The Lord had given me the word to speak, I was clear in my mind on that. So I spoke the word and I leave it to him how those words will impact all the different people who were there.

The man who'd died was a fine, distinguished person in a lot of ways. Well-known throughout the world-wide 'Burns' community.

That was a passion he'd had since he'd been at school.

Which shows the sort of impact that a teacher sometimes has - though I don't suppose the teacher who'd imparted that great passion in Tom's heart would ever know just how great was the influence he had. (I think it was a 'he'!)

I think God's pretty wise like that. He doesn't let us see the ways our lives are used by him to impact other people in his world. It would go to our heads, I guess. And leave us not so usable again.

But there seemed to be something going on at the service today. God speaking. That sort of something.

The man was also big on vintage cars. Again well-known across the land.

It's strange how some can sort of drift through life without a single thing that's grabbed their hearts. And others have these passions. Things they've really poured their time and strength into pursuing.

I think it's just indicative of how we're made. There's something in us all which needs to have a passion of that sort. I guess it's the way we've been made. 'In the image of God'.

It's a passion for God which lurks in all of our hearts. A passion for the poetry in his every word. A passion for the journeys of adventure which he longs that we might share.

At least, I recognise that he himself is very much the passion in my heart. The beauty of all words, because he is himself 'the word'. The wonder and the thrill of daily taking up the offer of adventure in the 'vintage car' of genuine discipleship of Christ.

Simply following Jesus. As the wise men went on their travels and boldly followed the star.

I was reminded of that as well again this morning in at the school. The Primary 1s and Primary 2s put on a lovely nativity.

The school did it all really well. Tables set out in the hall with coffee and goodies at hand. Simple, but colourful programmes.

And the children were out of this world! Amazing. How the teachers manage such a thing, I simply do not know. The whole thing was really terrific. Moving in its own way, too.

And, yes, I guess there was a lot of moving in the narrative! Mary and Joseph travelling. The shepherds going down from the hills. The wise men journeying countless miles.

An older sort of version of the buses coming in threes! A pattern of movement again. And certainly no coincidence!

Something was going on of real and deep significance. And I think it's little different here these days.