We want an easy, rather predictable day, week, year, life. It seems He scours the horizon for circumstances that carry us into anything but easy.
Why would a loving God do that--or at least allow that?
Sometimes normal leads us into all kinds of pitfalls: lack of gratitude, pride, a declining focus on our need for God, and a rut of expectation that our life should be this way. Other times, normal is wonderful but for some reason, God decides to crack open this wonderful to create something even greater.
In truth, life is exceedingly short. All of the kinks will be ironed out as we look back from an eternal perch, and we will see the growth that God was nurturing on the hard days.
Take the story of Catherine Violet Hubbard (Guideposts, June 2013). Killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy, six-year-old Catherine left behind a legacy as caretaker (in her mom Jennifer's words):
With animals...she came alive with love, our own miniature flame-haired Dr. Doolittle. It was as if she couldn't contain her need to care about every living thing.
She had her own business cards that she gave to her first grade teacher at Sandy Hook:
Catherine's Animal Shelter
Catherine Hubbard
Care Taker
Why would God allow the blow up of the normal trajectory of a loving, especially resourceful and caring child's life?
We do not know. But the death of this normal birthed spectacular.
Her parents, in Catherine's obituary, recommended donations to a local animal shelter in lieu of flowers. They copied the local address of the Animal Center and emailed the obituary.
Days later, Catherine's dad, Matt, decided to visit the Animal Center to let them know of the memorial arrangements. Shocked, he drove by a house--simply a house--and wondered what they had done. Jennifer quickly called to inquire and a kind woman answered that they would like to meet in person.
Their visit proved God's spectacular. Two women, with a heart to rescue animals but no building or resources, had received $175,000 from around the world--in honor of Catherine--with donations still streaming in. Today, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary is becoming a reality, with her parents' dream of a place of peace, born of the love that trumps all hate--the exquisite love of Christ.
The death of normal makes no sense to us. But if we allow ourselves to try and hear on God's frequency, we may discover how death sometimes births an ever greater mission.
Just this morning, I received this texted prayer from a friend:
Lord God, the glorious temple of Your Son's resurrected body is key to my peace with You. I praise You.The death of normal. Jesus' resurrected body. The key to peace.
The death of Catherine. Her resurrected dream of Care Taker. A place of peace.
Thank you, Catherine. Thank you, Jesus.
For more, go to theanimalcenter.org/sanctuary.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
