Yesterday, reading ‘The Hundred and One Dalmatians’: Pongo and Missis, the adult dalmatians have rescued the ninety-seven pups from captivity in Suffolk (such a terrible county!) and are trying to get them back to their home in London. The evil Cruella de Vil is closing in on them:
‘Nothing but a miracle can save us now,’ said Pongo.
‘Then we must find a miracle,’ said Missis, firmly. ‘Pongo, what is a miracle?’
It was at that moment they suddenly saw… a very large van drawn up on the road ahead of them. The tailboard was down…
…And the ‘miracle’ removal van takes them home to safety.
Last Friday my friend Steve messaged me: ‘I’m at JPH (our local hospital). I’ve got a hernia. Please pray that it’s the least difficult to deal with.’
Later in the day: Got ultrasound appointment on Wednesday so please pray it goes well and nothing serious needs doing.
Yesterday: Following Steve’s hospital appointment, he messaged: I had the ultrasound and all clear! It appears that the doctor I saw misdiagnosed me! I never had a hernia!! Thank you for your prayers, they were certainly answered… in an unexpected way.
This week I’ve ‘met’ Psalm 23 several times: ‘The Lord is my shepherd…’ – familiar words. The shepherd leads his sheep in green pastures, beside still waters. He’s a good shepherd.
Then: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’
Conversations with several friends this week: They’re in dark valleys of fear, loneliness, guilt, despair… The ‘unexpected miracle’ is that ‘you are with me’. It’s so dark that the shepherd can’t be seen, but he’s there. It’s Pongo’s unexpected removal van that brings protection and safety. It’s Steve’s unexpected diagnosis – a mistaken discernment of reality – that’s there all the time.
Today: I’m praying that I shall have the eyes to expect and see more unexpected miracles.
malcolmsmusings.org 