Timing is Divine

One of my favorite never heard of movies is Noises Off. It is based on a play that is a farcical tale of a stage production gone wrong. The best part of the story is the amazing comedic timing that takes place as things going on back stage inadvertently interact with things going on onstage. It is truly side splitting comedy.

Recently I was thinking about God's timing because it seems so often that I find myself saying how funny God's timing is. This weekend I found myself saying that again. The weekend services were supposed to include testimonies from attenders about different areas where they had to face the fact they couldn't handle it all on their own. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, the person who was giving a testimony on Sunday could not on Saturday. So some what last minute I had to fill in. Normally a speaking moment on stage is no biggie for me as I can talk about most anything - exhaustively in fact. However I was faced with the fact that I had to share on a topic I was anything but comfortable talking about. I can handle it all. I don't need help. Never let them see you sweat and all that. At least that's what I tell myself on most days. Sure I could go on stage and say something wise and insightful (that I borrowed from someone wise and insightful) or I could be vulnerable and talk honestly. For some strange reason, I went with the latter. I talked about a particular relational struggle, which basically was an indicator of a larger pattern, of trying to not trust God with my relationships and handle it on my own. It was very difficult for me to talk about that openly, but incredible good timing. I needed that reminder, as I constantly find myself slipping back into that pattern, and repeatedly push away the very people I need. And of course I stop trusting God and His timing.

It strikes me that timing is something that we credit comedians with and good financial planners and athletes, and a host of other things. But we often complain about timing when it comes to God, because He rarely operates by ours. I still find it difficult to really have faith in God's timing. But His timing is Divine because He can see what is going on back stage and onstage and somehow it all works for the best. I need to trust that, and from time to time, I need to be reminded of it.

You cannot share what you do not have

I heard a story shared by Brian Zehr at a meeting a few weeks ago and I find myself repeating the story and pondering it a lot lately so I thought I would share it.

Brian was doing some evangelistic ministry in Daytona Beach one summer. It was very hot and his team had been on the beach for several hours. He decided to break away from the team and take refuge in one of the beach front stores. He picked a t-shirt shop for no other reason than it had A/C. As he stood in the corner basking in the refreshing air, he witnessed a small boy, probable about 10, trying to get the attention of some older boys he was with. Whether they were older siblings or just acquaintances Brian was not sure, but whoever they were doing their best to ignore this young lad. The boy was trying to show them a particularly funny shirt he had found, but no matter how hard he tried they continued their ambivalence. Finally, in defiance the young boy proudly announced he was going to buy this new found treasure. This did get their attention and as the precocious young consumer marched to the counter, the parade of onlookers followed. The proud, soon to be owner, dug through his pockets, pulling out crumpled dollars and miscellaneous coins. The cashier counted his fortunes and announced to the assembled audience he was $2.30 short. The cynical crowd burst forth in laughter and began taunting the boy for his failed transaction. Brian watched for a moment and decided to end the torture and stepped forward. Brian offered to pay the balance. In that moment the boy gazed at Brian as if he was the Savior himself riding on the clouds. The look quickly changed when Brian realized he had left his wallet back on the beach and had no way to rescue the lad.

Brian's application point was you cannot share what you do not have. If you have not structured your life to be generous you will not have it when you need it most. I find myself constantly challenging myself - how can I be more generous? Well, have more to give. I am not blessed with endless riches but what God has given me, whether it be my possessions or my life, I can give it. This has most been applicable in my spiritual life, which is what Brian was challenging us on. If I am not investing in my spiritual life, when I need it most, it will be as absent as Brian's wallet that day. I give from my abundance and my abundance comes from God.