A String of Bad Luck
by Mike Miller, York College Graduate School
As I entered into this summer, I was excited to see what God was going to teach me. But before I was able to jump right in, a few things happened. The first week, my car broke down. The second week, my keys disappeared forever. During the third week, my laptop decided to never work again. As these things were happening, I was frustrated for the day, but I tried my best to not let them bother me too much.
Later on in the summer, I sat down and was reflecting on what had happened. I was shocked to see I wasn’t remotely stressed or mad about these things. If I had been in school, any one of these events would have been the end of the world! Working at Dry Bones this summer has refocused my perspective. My problems are not that big in light of what my houseless friends face daily.
With perspective in focus, I now see that God takes all of the crazy stress of life and somehow brings about peace.
I remember talking to one of my good friends, James, this summer. I was eating a sandwich with him at a Dry Bones picnic when he looked up at me and said, “Thank you.” I assumed he was thanking me for the sandwich. I thought nothing of it and said, “No problem.” He came back with, “No man. Thank you for being here. These picnics feel like a breath of fresh air. Talking to you and being here is so great for me. I want you to know that I pray for you and Dry Bones every night.”
I was completely shocked! His words truly humbled me. I was again reminded of the peace that The Lord generously gives us in the midst of life’s chaos. For at least that little while, both of our perspectives became focused. As God had used me to share peace that day with James, peace was once again shared with me.
