| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Undercover Angel
November 2, 2006
I couldn't believe my eyes. As I sat at a stop light in downtown Norwich,
my focus was drawn to the car in front of me. The driver had some kind
of appliance attached to her head. It was silver with what appeared to be
tinsel all around it. At first I thought it looked an awful lot like the little
halos that our children wear for our pageant at Christmas time. I chuckled
to myself and wondered what this lady in a green Mitsubishi could be
doing.
As we came to the next traffic light. I noticed she had a miniature angel
hanging from her rearview mirror. I thought, "She must take this angel
thing seriously." Then I noticed a flap of fabric coming up over the
headrest of her seat. I strained to look more closely and saw that she was
indeed wearing angel wings. It was too much for me. She wasn't exactly
John Travolta in the 1996 motion picture, Michael, but seeing a woman
dressed as an angel driving through downtown Norwich on a Tuesday
morning is pretty weird. I was tempted to follow her and find out where
this angel was going but I had to get to the post office and finish my
errands. As I got out of my car I said to no one in particular, "God bless
her."
When I walked into the post office the first thing I noticed was the clerk at
the counter had on a mask. Suddenly, in a moment of great clarity it all
made sense. It was Halloween! That angel I saw was probably on her
way to work or heading off to a party somewhere. What was I thinking?
There are no such things as angels... or are there?
Every once in a while someone comes into our life and touches us and
helps us through a difficult moment. Out of the blue we run into a
stranger who gives us a word or some hint of a direction and we get back
on the right path again. We have an encounter with someone we never
met before who happens to say just the right thing, almost as if it is a
word from God, and we find the encouragement we need to forge ahead.
On Tuesday morning I was struggling with some things that I needed to
take care of. You know how it is when you are troubled and can't find
anyone to talk to. You go over and over a scenario in your head and the
scene always comes out the same. You can literally drive yourself crazy.
You think no one will understand. It can lead to a sense of desperation and
hopelessness. When that happens to me I usually begin to pray. I ask God
to hear me out and ask Him for a solution. I was doing exactly that on
Tuesday morning when I saw that angel in the car in front of me. She may
never realize it because she was just going her own way, but that lady was
the answer to my prayer.
When I saw that angel it was an affirmation that God heard my prayers.
He was telling me everything was going to be all right. I can tell you that I
believe in angels. They are not always the ones with wings and a halo.
Sometimes God even sends us out unaware. He sends us to a person or a
place. The encouraging word we share, the smile, the pat on the back can
be just what someone needs to get them through a tough day.
You see, God always hears our prayers and wants us to know he loves us
and cares for us. He will use anything or anyone he can to get through to
us, even a woman in a Halloween costume. So take stock of the things
happening in your life and the people you meet. You will be amazed at the
number of times that God sends undercover angels to cheer and brighten
your day.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |