A Stroke of Luck
Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. John 5:28 (NRSVUE)
What is a stroke of luck? In the first place, I don’t believe in chance or luck! But if it needs a definition, I would have to go with Google’s: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. We are guided by the Holy Spirit, not some willy-nilly happenstance. Whether success or failure, there is purpose. Susie Colby, (All God’s Creatures) shares what she learned from what she creatively calls a stroke of luck.
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One day before my wedding, our elderly black poodle looked up, met my eyes, and tipped over sideways on the porch. Mom scooped up Missy and took her to the vet while I entertained out-of-town guests. Mom returned home without our dog. The vet had determined that Missy had suffered a catastrophic stroke, there was no chance of recovery, and the best thing would be to put her down. But Mom refused to add “our dog died” to the story of my wedding and convinced the vet to keep Missy until Monday.
Friends and family gathered, we rehearsed and dined, I slept (a little), got dressed, wedded, and attended the reception and then my new husband and I left for our honeymoon. Tuesday our coastal road trip brought us back through town. As we approached Mom’s house, I spotted a curly haired head in the front window. Missy? Mom told us that when she arrived at the vet’s clinic Monday morning, she found a sheepish, smiling vet and a “miraculously” recovered Missy.
This isn’t a story about resurrection, exactly, but it is a story about hope and expectation. At our wedding, the homily referenced the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into very good wine. Our pastor claimed the story promises that Jesus will surprise us with good things, even when the outlook is bleak. “Be expectant,” he charged us. Over thirty years of marriage, I came to expect good things. I wasn’t disappointed, and even though my future sometimes feels bleak in the years following my husband’s passing, I cling to the anticipation of the blessings God has yet to bestow.
We enjoyed one more delightful year with Missy. That plentiful good wine at Cana eventually ran out, but in the meantime, the wedding guests enjoyed it! Our best celebrations are a mere foretaste of the day when “all who are in their graves hear His voice and come out.” That will be a party worth the wait.
Great and loving God, thank You for being unstoppable. We give you all the glory and honor even when we are feeling overwhelmed and a bit downcast. We still know You are with us. AMEN.