Elizabeth Gilbert tells a joke about a poor Italian who goes to church and prays before the statue of a great saint, begging to win the lottery… every day for months.
‘Finally the exasperated statue comes to life, looks down at the begging man and says in weary disgust, ‘My son – please, please, please… buy a ticket!’
Two sides of the story – the saint answering the prayer, the man buying the ticket
Last night’s local news showed seventeen-year-old Megan Slack from Wisbech, winning International Junior Handler at this year’s Crufts dog show. She grew up surrounded by dogs… She’s studying animal management at college… She’ll represent Britain at the World Dog Show in Italy…
Megan was proud, passionate and confident…but spoke with a profound stammer. Two sides of the story – Megan working hard and overcoming difficulties… Crufts recognising her skill and rewarding her.
The weather’s getting warmer. This weekend I’m hoping to get out in the garden planting potatoes, carrot seeds, dahlia tubers…Two sides of the story – I prepare the bed, plant the seeds, do the weeding and watering… the growth of flowers and vegetables ‘happens’ – outside my control.
I’m still reflecting on the Easter story. Jesus is dead and buried. Then the tomb is empty. The resurrected Jesus appears first, not to a key disciple, strategic leader or His mother, but the unlikely Mary Magdalene. Two sides of the story – Jesus does his bit in appearing… perhaps Mary’s part is just being there, caring, being available.
Discussing the story of the Italian and the saint, Elizabeth Gilbert says: ‘We gallop through our lives like circus performers balancing on two speeding side-by-side horses – one foot is on the horse called ‘fate’, the other on the horse called ‘freewill’.’
Two sides of the story. Two horses. Today I pray, I seek to serve and live in a way that pleases God. This is the side I control. The other side, outside my control, I leave in God’s hands. I’m the circus performer seeking to keep my balance.
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